Shirley Jo Woolley was born to Corrine Elizabeth Rudisill Woolley and Earl Fred Woolley, better known as Buss, on Dec 12, 1935 in "the old Gertie Thompson's house, next to Farmer's" on Main St. in Walsh, CO. She was the second child of five kids and only daughter.  She and her brothers share a special bond unique to today's standards.

She was mostly raised on the farm south of Walsh and remembers when they got electricity and running water.  Mom knew how to do without and get by on little.

Grandpa Woolley was a farm laborer and truck driver.  Grandma Woolley had various jobs outside the home.  She ran a laundry service and laundromat, was one of the school lunchroom cooks, and the Walsh librarian.

Mom started Kindergarten in Rocky Ford.  She was too young by their rules so had to be screened to see if she could do the work.  Mom remembered the questions that they asked her and thought they were silly, and she had to recite her ABCs forwards and backwards. She passed their screening and started school.

The family moved back to the Walsh area and went to school at Walsh the rest of her years and graduated at the top of her class.

During HS she met Marion Packard at a dance.  He had been in the Army and she thought he was handsome and fun.  They dated her senior year and decided to get married in June after she graduated from HS. Marion was working for Arthur Butts at the filling station and found out they got a 3-day weekend over Memorial Day, so after talking with each set of parents and getting their blessing they moved their date up and were married May 31, 1953 in Clayton, NM with both sets of parents in attendance.

They left on their honeymoon and had car trouble.  Roscoe Hargrove and Oran Poff came and helped them get the car back home so Marion could open the station for Arthur Butt who had gotten sick and was hospitalized.

Mom knew she was young and was determined to prove herself in the new homemaking role. To this union 5 children were born, Marian Kim, Vicki Jo, Kay Jeanette, Alan Ray, and Dean Leslie. There were 4 children born in the first 6 yrs. of marriage.  The first pregnancy was complicated with severe toxemia resulting in Shirley having seizures right after Kim's birth.  Marion was adamant that one child would be enough, but Mom convinced him that they needed more than one baby.  We were told this conversation was apparently repeated after each child was born.  Between Alan and Dean, Mom had a tubal pregnancy requiring emergency surgery.  She grieved the loss of that baby though she knew not that she was pregnant.  She often spoke of Dad getting to meet that baby in heaven before she did, and wondering if it was a boy or girl.

She took her role of mothering seriously, stating she had been blessed with practical grandmothers.  At one point Aunt Clover tried to get her to help with 5-day clubs which included traveling around the area.  Mom said she finally told her she had her own 5 kid club that she needed to concentrate on raising.

She did enroll in a tailoring class offered in Lamar and travelled with other ladies from Walsh.  The result for us was beautifully handmade tailor fitted clothes.

Mom was involved in Home Demonstration Club, bowling, state bowling trips, and card parties with friends.  She babysat kindergarten kids when they only went half days – we loved hearing her tells those stories.

When Dean started Kindergarten, Mom went to work at the school lunchroom.  She worked the short shift where she could get everyone off to school and then be home by the time school was out. As time went on she took on the dietary manager role. She was a great cook and loved to bake. The past several years she wasn't able to get all the kids gifts for Christmas, so we convinced her all we wanted was some of her homemade bread.

Her cookbook was full of notations throughout where she made adjustments she thought needed done. Vic spoke for her cookbook years ago.

While Dean was in HS, she and Dad helped with youth group.

When Dean graduated from HS, Mom started nursing school that following fall. Dad and Mom moved the little trailer to Kim, Mom commuting to La Junta and Dad to Springfield.  They were gone 2 long years, missed by all of us and their grandkids who were used to Mom and Dad's house being Grand Central Station, where if you needed something and didn't have it, they probably did have it or something similar that would work.

When she graduated from Nursing School, we all went to her graduation.  She had her own cheering section!

Mom then worked as an RN in La Junta.  When they moved back home, she worked at SECH on the floor and as a prn nurse doing surgery recovery, also some fill in shifts and OB call at Stanton Co Hospital in Johnson, KS.  She was the Walsh School Nurse for a while.  During this time, she also babysat Treven and Morgan as babies until they were about 2 yrs. old, saying she always wanted twins.

As Dad's dementia progressed, she chose to not work out of the home, but use her nursing skills at home caring for Dad.  She was a faithful mate, for better or worse, and said she knew why God allowed her to go to nursing school - so she would know how to care for Dad.  Even when Dad no longer recognized her, her sense of humor, commitment to his best care, and family support allowed her to keep him at home until his unexpected death.

Mom was a natural caretaker and nursing fit her well.  She brought Grandma Hattie into our home until Agnes was hired.  She cared for Grandpa Woolley and Grandma Nora in their home, spending nights there until his death.

To occupy her time after Dad's death she started quilting.  She made all of her grandkids I SPY quilts, plus many others.  One year for Christmas she gave each one of us kids and our spouses quilts.

We as kids, were taught to respect, honor, and love each other – it was not an option. Each of us knew we were an important part of the family.

Mom and Dean had a special bond – Dean is pretty sure he was her favorite, and he did have more one-on-one time with her.  Mom would go to see Dean's family, wanting to be sure that Amanda Jo, Jarred and Jessica knew their Grandma   Packard.

Kay has a special bond with Mom, on March 3, 1958 Mom gave Kay life, and on March 2, 2016 Kay gave Mom life by donating her a kidney - which extended Mom's life 7 years.

Vic and Mom had a special bond, Mom always went to Vic's when she had her babies. With Amy, she went to Germany, with Randi and Shawn she went to Virginia Beach, VA. Vic slipped and told me Mom always did her mending pile while there and various other chores.  I asked Mom why she never came and stayed at my house, She said she brought her suitcase over and Ronny met her at the door and sent her home.  Which was not true,but made for a funny story which was her sense of humor and quick wit.

Alan and Mom had a special bond, if something wasn't working or was broke, Alan could fix it.  After Dad was gone, he was definitely her handyman.

As an adult Mom became one of my best friends.  We took care of Grandpa Woolley and then Dad together. She, Vic, and I went to some nursing conferences together.  After Dad died if I needed to go somewhere, I'd ask if she wanted to ride along and she usually did. We went to do pictures for the church directory, I had to talk her into going since she was single, not sure she wanted to go. The photographer said, you two are obviously sisters, which one is older?  She was flattered, I was not.

Mom was a great historian, which we will miss. We should have been taking notes.

Mom married Eli Parnell Sept 2, 2012.  She was like a schoolgirl, giddy and excited.  When she told us about their email relationship and then engagement, she said she was not asking for permission, just letting us know. We were happy for her but did not know how life in Walsh would be without Grandma Packard.  They lived in Wichita a little over 2 years.  Mom enjoyed getting acquainted with Eli's kids and grandkids.  After Alan had his accident Mom felt like she needed to be closer to home.  Then Papa Eli got to know the Walsh grandkids, letting them sit on his tractor and playing with the big wagon down the driveway of the round top.

One day Mom c/o her finger hurt and asked for a refill on her arthritis medicine.  I reminded her that she we knew her kidney functions were borderline, so would need some labs before I could fill that. When her lab results came back, she was near renal failure. We were referred to Dr, Stan Sicher in Pueblo who adjusted Mom's meds.  He became a well-respected and trusted friend who recommended Mom be evaluated by the Univ of CO transplant team to see if she was a candidate for a kidney transplant.  She said transplants are for young people, not 80-year-olds.  Dr. Sicher, said Shirley look at all these people here with oxygen, walkers, WCs.  You are the healthiest person here; I would love for you to consider it. She agreed to at least meet with the team.  They agreed that she was a great candidate, but the Univ of CO had never transplanted an 80 yr./o, and she would need approval before the first of the year while she was 79 as they would not even consider it if she was 80.   Long story short, she was accepted, and went through the process to prepare in case she had to do dialysis instead.  We all did a lot of praying and asking God for wisdom and guidance well as protection for Mom's health not to worsen.

March 2nd finally came and Mom came through the surgery in good shape.  She was the oldest patient ever to have a kidney transplant at Univ of CO.  The doctors and staff were amazed at her health and determination, commenting about having to chase her down the halls to do rounds on her while the 17-year-old patient down the hall was too sore to get out of bed.

We are all proud to be one of her kids, she was an amazing woman, wife, and mother.  We pray that we are as committed as she was to pass down to our kids and those around us the truths in the Bible about eternal life, and salvation.   Because in the end that's really all that matters.

Thanks, Mom.
We are eternally grateful that the Lord gave us you.  We are blessed!

She was preceded in death by Marion Packard, her husband of 49 years, Vicki and Ben Acre, and brother Monte Woolley

She is survived by her husband, Eli Parnell of Walsh,

Kim and Ronny Tate of Walsh,

Kay and Ed Selman of Wilderado, TX,

Alan and Cindy Packard of Walsh,

Dean and Gwen Packard of North Platte, Nebraska

Debbie and Lowell Franz

Steve and Liz Parnell

Phil and Janese Parnell

David and Alexa Parnell

A host of grandkids and great grandkids whose lives have been greatly enriched by this grandma.

Written by Kim Tate