Shirley Eloise Wilkie

Shirley Eloise Wilkie, 91, of West Pierce Street, Carlsbad, NM, passed away in the early hours on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at Lakeview Christian Home. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Monday, September 14, 2015 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 10:00 AM, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Terry McKean officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Shirley Eloise Wilkie was born May 29, 1924 in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas to Calvin and Viola (Kreamer) Parson. She graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1942 and married Leslie L. Wilkie December 19, 1942. Shirley dreamed of attending a business college but marriage, motherhood and WWII redirected that dream to raising a family and helping Leslie in his painting business. Reading, particularly poetry, was just one of Shirley's many pleasures in life. She and her sister, Verna Walker, loved traveling and camping in various national parks across the country as well as going to the casinos in Ruidoso. Shirley also loved sewing, quilting and gardening but, the true love and joy of her life were her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leslie L. Wilkie; brothers: James Oliver and Frank (Bill) Parson and sister, Verna Walker. Survivors are two sons: James Wilkie and wife, Rosemary of Carlsbad, NM, Robert Wilkie and wife, Katherine of Apalachin, NY; three daughters: Frankie Wiseman and husband, Curtis of San Antonio, TX, Sharon Martindale and husband, Bill of Cedar Creek, TX, Sonia Thimmesch and husband, Chuck of Sheboygan Falls, WI; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be John Geyerman, Greg Wiseman, Micah Wilkie, Zach Martindale, Chuck Thimmesch and Tyler Baughman. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.