Shirley Jean Smith

Dominion Post

21-05-2025

Shirley Jean Smith, 79, of Morgantown, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 18, 2025, in JW Ruby Memorial Hospital, and she is now home with her Lord. Shirley and her twin sister, Sherry, were born May 4, 1946, daughters of the late Woneda Higginbotham, in a small town called Brady.When the twins were three years old, their mother married Gerald Lee Cutright, who became their father. The family then moved to Edna Gas and then Hagans, where two more girls came along, Elizabeth and Geraldine. A son, David, was born later.Shirley started first grade at Brady Elementary. She attended National, Everettsville, Hagans, Arnettsville, Morgantown Jr. High and Morgantown High School.Shirley started her working career at Murphy's 5 & Dime on High Street in Morgantown. She also worked at Morgantown Glass, Gabriel Brothers, Montgomery Ward, Mont Chateau, WVU Hospital Cafeteria, Heilig-Meyers Furniture, and Ramada Inn (for 15 years), where she and her sister, Sherry, worked in the Banquet Department. Shirley was very proud of her job at Mylan Pharmaceuticals. She was the cashier in the cafeteria for 17 years until her retirement. She knew and loved everybody, and everyone loved Shirley as well.Shirley dearly loved her family. She is survived by her loving husband, Larry D. Smith, of 60 years; her daughter, Kimberley and Art Menear of Preston County; her grandsons: Christopher Carr and Krystin Goodwin of Charlotte, N.C., Brandon Carr of Preston County; one great-grandson, Emerson Carr of Preston County; sisters, Sherry and Bill Bragg of Morgantown, Elizabeth Groghan and sons Jeremy and David of Fairmont, Geraldine and Richard McIntyre – daughter Michelle and son Nicholas of Fairmont; brother, David Cutright and daughter Shayna of Seattle, Wash., and son Ian of Idaho. Shirley is also survived by her close friend, Brenda Moyle.In addition to her mother and stepfather, she was preceded in death by her beloved nephew, Michael A. Bragg.Shirley enjoyed spending time with her daughter, Kim. Sometimes it was shopping and having lunch together, and sometimes it was a bus trip to the Amish Country in Ohio, or Atlantic City in New Jersey. Many times, they went to bingo games as well. Shirley's hobby was collecting videos. If you ask her about a movie, she would say, 'Oh, I've got that one.' Shirley and Larry enjoyed watching movies in the evening and just being together.Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Shirley would have the entire family at her home for dinner. She always celebrated Larry's birthday on July 5th with a cookout. Shirley and Sherry would spend the day together before the holidays preparing for the crowd. It was time well spent together.Everybody knows the twins, Shirley and Sherry. They were very close. They were both born with a crossed eye, Shirley's left and Sherry's right. They both had surgery to correct the eye problem at the age of 5. They also suffered the usual childhood diseases at the same time. Shirley and Sherry loved shopping together. As adults, they lived near each other. They both had gallbladder surgery a couple months apart. They were both diagnosed with heart problems and macular degeneration at the same time. They laugh and tell each other that this twin stuff has got to stop. Shopping separately, they still got each other the same birthday card. Shirley will be greatly missed by family and everybody who knew and loved her.Friends are invited to gather in support of Shirley's family in McCulla Funeral Home, 770 Fairmont Road, Westover, from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, in the funeral home, with the Reverend Shawn Woody officiating. Following the service, Shirley will be laid to rest at Beverly Hills Cemetery.
Condolences may be extended to the family at www.mcculla.com