Shirley Elaine Watts Pershall. Mom celebrated Mothers Day by going home to her heavenly Father on May 10, 2009 following a short battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family. Born December 27, 1935 to W.E. (Bill) and Jewel Watts in Portales, New Mexico. Shirley married Merle in 1954 and they moved to Oklahoma City where they raised four children. Shirley was a mom and housewife until her youngest child went to school and then she reentered school with a desire to help people by becoming a registered nurse. She attended OSU-OKC where she received an associate degree in nursing in 1974. She retired after 20 years at Bethany Hospital and later returned there as a volunteer. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Marvin Watts. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Merle; children Neil and Beth Pershall, Gary and Aletha Pershall, Weldon and Sandra Sneed, and Kevin and Robin Pershall; grandchildren Benton, Chris, Katie, Linde, Kyle, Nicole, Kody and Brenna. Special thanks to Mercy Hospital, Janie, Sabrina and Mercy Hospice for their loving care of our wife, mom and grandma. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, 3800 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. Viewing will be Tuesday from 12:00-7:00 p.m. at Mercer-Adams Funeral Home. Graveside services will be Wednesday, May 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Frisco Cemetery, with a memorial service to follow at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Bethany.