OZARK…Mrs. Shirley Ann Harper Watson, a resident of Ozark, died Thursday evening, June 18, 2026, at her home. She was 69.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, June 22, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 5:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley was born on June 11, 1957, in Ozark, Alabama, and she spent nearly all her life in the place she loved and called home. She was happiest when she was surrounded by the people she cared about, and she treasured every moment spent with her family. Shirley had a gift for creating things with her hands—whether she was quilting a blanket, shaping clay into something beautiful, or working with wood to make something useful and lasting. Each piece she made carried a little bit of her heart.
She also took great pride in being a homemaker. Making a house feel warm, welcoming, and full of love came naturally to her. She found joy in the simple, everyday things—cooking meals, keeping a cozy home, and making sure the people around her felt cared for.
Shirley was preceded in death by parents, Mack Gray and Gladys Mae Ammons Gray, her husband, David Carlton “Slim” Harper; as well as her siblings Lamar Mills, Sammy Gray, and Don Mills. Though she will be deeply missed, the love she shared and the kindness she showed will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew her.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Junior Watson, Ozark; son, David Harper (Rochelle), Ozark; siblings, Ron Mills (Ann), Jerry Gray, Dallas Gray (Kelly), and Billy Gray; granddaughter, Rose Harper; close family friend, whom she called her daughter, Brenda Ellison; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
