Shirley Ann Bowling, in the early hours of Friday, March 18, 2022, passed away peacefully in her home, surround by her loving family members. She was 81 years old.

Shirley was born in Mary Helen, Kentucky, an unincorporated community of Harlan County, on March 3, 1941. She was born to Sherman and Ethal McQueen and was one of fifteen brothers and sisters.

Shirley left her home in Kentucky and moved to Hamilton, Ohio as a young woman. She worked hard to support herself in various professions until she met a tall, lanky young man called “Sassafras” by his boss. Billy Joe Bowling was a sewing machine salesman at the time. Their love for one another grew and they married on October 31, 1962.

Bill and Shirley had four children whom they loved and raised to love God with all their hearts. They served faithfully at The Calvary Church in Springdale, Ohio for many years.

Shirley was a talented woman, best described as a Proverbs 31 woman. She loved her family very much and did whatever she could to make a loving and secure home for them.

She enjoyed pushing herself to see where her creativity would take her. She had several different hobbies, such as sewing, crocheting, painting, traveling, gardening, and cooking. She loved flowers and building and refining wood projects and much more.

Bill and Shirley and a few friends enjoyed going to the local nursing homes and singing and visiting with the residents there. It was always a joy to see the faces of the people light up as they softly clapped their hands to the old hymns that they remembered.

Her golden years were spent enjoying her children and many grandchildren. Shirley and Bill were married for 53 wonderful years.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe Bowling; five sisters, Opal Swanson (Cawood, KY), Ollie Pray (Indiana), Martha Gray (Fresno, CA), Wanda Faye Rogers (Houston, TX) and Sophie McQueen (Mary Helen, KY); four brothers, James McQueen (Mary Helen, KY), Norval McQueen (Mary Helen, KY), Walter Wayne McQueen (Mary Helen, KY) and David McQueen (Everts, KY)

Shirley is survived by her children, Roberta (Wesley) Brown, James (Donna) Bowling, Billy (Renee) Bowling, and Norman (Jaimie) Bowling; her grandchildren, Robert Sites, Hollie (Brent) Stringfellow, Michael (Nikki) Sites, Katie (Jeremy) Jones, James (Delena) Simpson, Tami (Raymond) Willis, Robbie (Amy) Brown, David (Kii) Brown, Joshua Bowling, Breanna Rahn, Cheyenne Rahn, Gabriel Bowling, Nathaniel Bowling, Donnie Rich, Raven Bowling, Carson Bowling, Helen Brim, Robert Brim, and Lucas Bowling; her great-grandchildren, Akira Pardo, Addison Stringfellow, C.J. Brown, Alexis Brown, Michael Willis, Derrick Brown, Kyran Brown, Jayden Brown, Artimus Brown, Rose Jones, Violet Jones, Kynsleigh Howard, and Byrdie Mae Henderson; her siblings, Cecilia Shifflett, Carrie Sue Stanton, Carolyn Gail Begaly, Helen Sue Fairchild, and George McQueen. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Calvary Church, 11970 Kenn Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio. Funeral service will be held at The Calvary Church on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Diana Reed officiating. Burial will follow at Butler County Memorial Park.