Shirley Wallis

Shirley Back Wallis passed away March 8, 2017 at Brookdale Senior Living. She was born October 21, 1926 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota to John and Esther Back. They were both Swedish immigrants from Finland. The family already included an adopted brother, John Edwin; and an adopted sister, Marion Esther. The family spoke Swedish in those early days in America.

Shirley graduated in 1944 from Duluth Central High School. In December 1945, she married William Kennedy, former editor of the Fort Smith Times Record. Two children, Patricia and Ross, were born to that marriage which lasted 26 years. They lived in California for 15 years where Shirley attended Cabrillo and Foothills Colleges while raising the children. In November 1974, she married Colonel Joel D. Wallis of Shawnee, Oklahoma. After his retirement from military service, they enjoyed traveling Europe, Mexico, Asia and the world. They especially enjoyed the Scandinavian countries where they met many cousins and friends, and Shirley was happy to relearn the Swedish language, customs and music she had known as a child.

In 1980 Shirley and her best friend and husband, Joel, built their country home on 15 acres near Van Buren, doing most of the work themselves. While working on the house, Shirley also worked as an interpreter for the Fort Chaffee Fire Department while the Cubans were being relocated from there. In 2003, she was blessed with her only grandchild, Jasmine Maria Kennedy, daughter of son, Ross and Josie of Hot Springs. Daughter, Patricia moved back to Fort Smith from California in 2002. Joel and Shirley are members of St. Luke Lutheran Church since 1988.

She is survived by her husband, Joel Wallis; daughter, Patricia Kennedy; son, Ross Kennedy; granddaughter, Jasmine Kennedy; and Jasmine’s mother, Josie Packard; and her cousin, June Hendrickson of Minnesota. She is also survived by her stepson, David Wallis and his wife Liz and sons, Carl and Leigh and many cousins and friends in Finland and Sweden.

Visitation will be at Edwards Funeral Home Tuesday from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM. Memorial service will be 3:00 PM Wednesday at St. Luke Lutheran Church with Pastor Laird Duran officiating. Private family burial will be at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Memorials to St. Luke Lutheran Church Building Fund, 5401 Free Ferry Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901.