Mary Louetta Shireman, beloved wife, loving mother and proud grandmother went to be with her Lord on the evening of Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the age of 78.  She passed peacefully while being read 1 Corinthians 13 and surrounded by her family. Lou was born at home in the Pyatt-Eros area of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 23, 1943 to Mary Nova Tabor and Arthur B. Underwood.

She attended school in Pyatt, Arkansas and then later Harrison, Arkansas Schools. The Lord blessed Lou with many talents and a personality that inspired people to readily share with her. God gave her an ability to have keen insight and a sense of things to come or a premonition. She used these talents to motivate, inspire and comfort those she came in contact with. These God given talents also carried her through her times as a bookkeeper, loving wife, mother of twins, grandmother, artist, two times acceptance in Watercolor USA, instructor of crafts and art classes, long time genealogist of family history, seamstress/tailor sewing clothes, curtains, upholstery, auto seat covers, but most importantly special items for her husband, children, grandchildren and friends. Her family was blessed by her delicious nutritious, healthy planned meals, after school snacks and holiday gatherings. She was active in all aspects of her family's lives.  She served in Bluebirds, Cub Scouts, Easter Seals, the Epilepsy Association, school activities fund raisers and made crafts for donations. In everything, she gave fully of herself all that God had blessed her with.  Lou's constant faith and love for others was evident and felt.  Even while in the hospital numerous times over her last couple decades she would struggle to talk and breathe but lovingly shared her faith and her concern for caregivers and roommates. This resulted in friendships with doctors, nurses, patients and clergy that were ongoing with correspondence, calls and visits throughout the years. Her greatest hope for all she came in contact with was that they would trust Christ as Lord and Savior and join her one day in eternity.

Lou was preceded by her parents, Arthur and Nova Underwood early in life and more recently her sister Murlaine Patton.  Also her unofficial adoptive parents Ann and Gene Tefertiller have preceded her.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; her children and their spouses, Eric & Judy Shireman and Teresa & Tim Murphy; granddaughter Taylor Geary and husband Ryan, grandsons Tristan Murphy and Nick Shireman. Also surviving is a nephew Donnie Patton of Arkansas.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 1-2 PM at the Klinger-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 with funeral services to follow at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to, Council of Churches of the Ozarks -Safe to Sleep, PO Box 3947, Springfield, MO 65808 or support a charity of your choice to help others. The family respectfully requests masks be worn for visitation and funeral services.