Shirley Ann Roberts

Shirley Ann Roberts, who loved to be called “Mamoo” by her grandkids, departed her loving family on May 7th 2024 at St Vincent Hospital while in compassionate care after suddenly finding out she had stage 4 colon cancer. She had taken care of her mother Mary Fenton at home until her passing with colon cancer, and then again took on the care of her husband Jimmy in home until his passing from Renal Cell cancer.

Shirley was born in Little Rock, AR on June 19th 1950 to Mary and Charles Fenton. She was the youngest out of 10 children.  She married her husband Jimmy Roberts on October 13th, 1967. Jimmy was her true love and she never remarried.  She worked at Teletype for many years through multiple layoffs and then took on the role of secretary to her husband's partnered business B&R Electric. She worked from their home office and was the welcomed face and voice of much of the company’s clients and clerical duties until June 1997 when Jimmy had to dissolve the business due to his diagnosis with cancer. 

Shirley loved spending nearly every weekend with her husband Jimmy at their family cabin in the Ozarks which they built themselves and with help from longtime friends and some new from the area. They both loved to hunt, fish and explore the outdoors on their ATV's.  They made longtime family friends with cabin neighbors Marilyn and Odell Brock and grandson Dustin Brock. Shirley and husband Jimmy loved spending nights around the campfire telling stories and winding down from a long days trail ride with many friends; Mike "Junior" Smith, James and Linda Owens and daughter Melissa Owens, and many other friends in and around Dover and Treat Arkansas.  

After her husband Jimmy's passing she focused more on her family home in Little Rock and its upkeep with help from Jennifer Garner (daughter), Alexis Garner (granddaughter), Jaxon and Raylan Garner (grandsons) who had moved next door some 10 years ago making family visits and shared dinners an almost daily occurrence. Jennifer's daughter Alexis Garner (granddaughter) had even moved in with "Mamoo" a few years back to help after Shirley had surgery and worsening health. Alexis was praised as "Mamoo's Lil' helper" and they enjoyed watching Dateline and movies or visiting with family- Uncle Ronny Fenton (Pat) and Uncle Rudy.

She worked hard even on the hottest days to make sure her yard was tip top and to get the back porch all lit up with summer twinkle lights and a fire pit.  She would enjoy spending nights around the fire pit with longtime family friends Josh Doss and Manny Williams playing card games and helping the grandkids roast marshmallows and watching them swim in the pool. She enjoyed her family home built in the 1970's with many longtime friends/neighbors such as Doris Gil (James), Betty Wood (Bob), Willie Mae Goodwin (Bud), Cindy Reyes (Lucho), and Crystal Webb (Mary Beadle). Shirley looked forward to sitting by the pool each 4th of July and watching neighbors Cindy and Lucho Reyes put on a fabulous firework show. She was most proud of her well maintained yard and home (also built with husband Jimmy) in which she went all out on when it came to the holidays.  Her home was always magical at Christmas and she always thrived to add something extra for the kids each year. 

She attended every music recital in which all 3 grandkids performed.  She expressed how much she wanted to get better after her last surgery to attend her grandson Jaxon Garner's first season of baseball and just beamed with joy at all the photos and videos from his first couple games.

Her pumpkin bread won over the hearts and bellies of both Jaxon and Raylan, and honestly anyone else who had tried it. She would always have a special stash of candies to share with her youngest grandchild Raylan and couldn’t wait to share with daughter Jennifer and others about his big stories for a boy his age. His silly sense of humor would have her in tears of laughter.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Jennifer Garner (Dustin), grandchildren Alexis, Jaxon, and Raylan Garner.  Shirley is also survived by her brother Ronny Fenton and 2 sisters Charlsie Reedy and Jeanette Love.  She had a total of 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Roberts. Also brothers; Bob Fenton, James Fenton, John Fenton, Tommy Fenton, Rudy Fenton and sister Carolyn Grindstaff.