Emma “Shirley” Jones Paquette died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012.
She was born May 13, 1931, in Richmond, Va., to J.W.F. Jones and Emma Gephart Jones. She was married for 58 years to Dean R. Paquette, who died in 2011.
She is survived by her children, Neta Paquette, of Louisburg, Diane Webster, of Greenville, and Kingsley Paquette and wife, Claire, of Dothan, Ala.; five grandchildren, Domonic Medley, of Sacramento, Calif.; Hunter Webster, of Greenville; Lauren Webster, of Wilmington, and Hayden Paquette and Chloe Paquette, of Dothan, Ala. She also is survived by her local caregiver, Pat Frye.
Family life was important to Shirley. At 1 year of age, Shirley and her family returned to her father’s home place in Louisburg, where she lived with her parents and younger sister, Vennie. After graduating from Mills High School and Henderson Business College, Shirley, her sister and friend Nan Finch moved to Washington, D.C., to work in the Pentagon. There she met her husband, Lt. Dean R. Paquette.
Her husband’s military career took them many places and to many assignments. During that time, Shirley worked as a school secretary in Louisburg and in Fairfax County, Va., until her retirement after 23 years of service.
Shirley and her husband retired to Pinehurst in 1992. While living in Pinehurst, Shirley was a member of several bridge groups and the Republican Women’s Club.
Family will visit with friends at her memorial service at Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst, 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5 2013. Interment beside her husband will follow at a later date, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to Piney Grove Methodist Church Building Fund, 42 Wallace Road, Louisburg, NC 27549.
On line condolences can be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst is serving the family.