W.T. Shumake & Daughters

Shirley Rae Whitted Grossman, 76, of Louisville transitioned on Sunday April 21, 2024 at Baptist Health.

Visitation 2-4 Saturday, April 27, 2024 at W.T. Shumake & Daughters Funeral Home 3815 Newburg Road. Funeral to follow at 4pm.

Shirley Rae Whitted Grossman was born on March 3, 1948 in Des Arc, Arkansas to the proud parents of Charles Don Whitted and Immogene Collins. She was their only child. In later years, she would discover seven additional siblings. What a blessing.

Growing up on a farm, Shirley enjoyed farm life- learning how to drive a tractor at an early age, gardening, fishing, and hunting- being one with nature.

Grandmother Owl, which was her Native name, was an exceptional woman who was a true trail blazer. Married and blessed with five children, living life on life’s terms, Shirley became a single mother, who always looked forward and never wallowed in the past. She went to work to provide for her family. She worked as a factory worker for Campbells, Tyson, Jones Plastic, Caterpillar and as a security guard. Meanwhile, Shirley was an incredible seamstress who could make designer styled clothes without a pattern, altar boys clothing to become girls, and made anyone’s clothes fit like a glove. In her spare time, she would quilt, crochet, knit and watch TV shows, Criminal Minds and Grimm. Her greatest joy came when she was in the kitchen preparing delicious dishes such as lasagna, pecan pie, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad, yeast rolls, chocolate gravy, and her legendary Sock-it-to-me soup. Of course, on New Years Day she always prepared sauerkraut and weenies. Because the family had branched out, frequently she would send food care packages through the mail.

Family was the cornerstone of her existence, she was the babysitter, homeschool teacher, nurturer, encourager, adviser, and hands-on communicator. Her strong will and determination helped her to beat cancer twice. With every obstacle, she fought hard. On Sunday April 21, 2024, her COPD finally brought her life to an end. She is survived by her children, Andrea Alford, Dallas Whitted, and Paul Flowers; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; in-laws that she regarded as family; and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughters, Stella Whitted, and Angela Grossman.