Shirley Burchett Felton, 85, Bella Vista, Ark., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
She was born May 20, 1935, to Dewey and Minnie Decker, in Canaan.
Shirley was an avid tennis player, especially participating in and supporting Bella Vista Seniors Women’s Tennis. She supported youth tennis and enjoyed watching her grandchildren participate in school or league play.
Shirley was a founding member of the Bella Vista Presbyterian Church and believed strongly in its culture and goals, particularly as it relates to caring for one another and caring for the environment. She was a career accountant who worked for several prestigious firms during her career, including the American School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she lived for 10 years while married to her second husband, Tom Burchett, an airplane pilot now deceased.
Gene Felton and Shirley were united in marriage Sept. 2, 2000, in Bentonville, Ark. They traveled extensively, especially enjoying trans-Atlantic and Pacific cruising or by car to visit family and friends across the U.S. Shirley was a passionate supporter of the Vera Lloyd Home, which provides a home and education for homeless youth in southern Arkansas.
Shirley was also preceded in death by husband, Wayne Wilkes, in August 1967.
Shirley is survived by husband, Gene Felton; brothers, James and Darrell Decker of Owensville; children, Steven Wilkes and wife Gretchen, Karen Edwards, Michael Wilkes and wife Sandra, John Wilkes and wife Sherri and Thomas Wilkes and wife Jane; step-children, Joel Felton, C.J. Felton and wife Jeanette, Chris Felton and wife Mary, Charles Felton, David Felton and wife Abby, Eric Felton, Dan Felton, Doug Felton, Brian Felton and wife Gretchen and Sunny Felton; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family asks that any support offered in Shirley’s name is given to the Vera Lloyd Home and would be an honored tribute to her memory and her love and care for children in need by contacting Kathy French at Vera Lloyd Home at 501-666-8195, emailing kathyfrench@veralloyd.org or visiting www.veralloyd.org/donate/donate-now/.
