Shirley Mobley

Obituary for Shirley MobleybrShirley Benfield Mobley passed away peacefully on Christmas Day 2009, after a brief illness. She was 75 years old. Born in Lenoir, North Carolina to Worth Philmore Benfield and Ollie Mae White Benfield, Shirley was the youngest child in a large Southern family, with seven older brothers and one sister. brIn 1954, while living in California with her brother Grady and his family, she met Melvin Mobley from Roswell, New Mexico, a gregarious, six-foot-tall Navy man stationed in Long Beach. They were married a month later. Life in the military - with its frequent moves to different ports and shipyards around the United States - was punctuated by the births of six children over ten years. Mel and Shirley Mobley had five daughters and then, finally, a son. In 1974, when Mel retired from the Navy, they returned to Roswell, NM to permanently make their home and to finish raising their family. brShirley Mobley was a member of Grace Community Church. She was a reader, a writer of poetry and memoir, and an artist in oil paints. She loved to sing. But most of all, Shirley was an outstanding wife, mother and grandmother.brShe is survived by her children Sheri Mobley and her husband Jim Jack of Los Angeles, Bonnie Milam and her husband JK Milam of Roswell, Brenda Claman and her husband Dr. David Claman of Albuquerque, Penny Marchello and her husband Jim Marchello of Tucson, Julie Mobley of Albuquerque, and Mel Mobley II and his wife Denise Melfi Mobley of Santa Barbara, plus 15 grandchildren - Clint Newman and his wife Mariann, Benjamin Newman, Jordan Morsey, Jerrick Morsey, Jackson Morsey, Barry Claman, Louie Claman, Tyler Marchello, Parker Marchello, and the twins Max and Paige Mobley, also Jake Milam, Clayton Milam and his wife Selena, and 2 great-grandchildren - Hayle Newman and Brett Milam. brShe is also survived by two brothers and their wives - Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Benfield Joan of Forest City, NC and Mr. and Mrs. Archie Benfield Vivian of Downers Grove, Il, as well as brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Murl Mobley Carlyon of Stockton, CA; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Brice Lorene of Reno, NV; Mrs. Mildred Mobley of Roswell; Mrs. Nora Mobley-Roland of Roswell, Mrs. Mary Nell Benfield of Lenoir, NC; Mrs. Iris Benfield of Lenoir, NC, and many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as numerous friends.brbrHer husband, her parents, and six siblings precede her in death.brServices for Shirley Mobley will be held Wed, December 30th at 2pm at Grace Community Church in Roswell. Floral memorials may be sent to LaGrone Funeral Chapel; other contributions in memory of Shirley Mobley may be made to Grace Community Church, Roswell.brIf family and friends would like to pay their respects online, they may do so at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com.brArrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel.brLives of great men all remind usbrWe can make our lives sublime,brAnd departing, leave behind usbrFootprints on the sands of time.br - Henry Wadsworth Longfellowbrbr

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