Shirley Anne (Lail) Perry

Shirley Anne Lail Perry of Hickory, NC, passed away May 3rd, 2023 at Abernathy Laurels in Newton, NC. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Roscoe and Elizabeth Lail, her three brothers, Carl Lail, Blake Lail, and Harold Lail, as well as her beloved husband, Howard “Bud” Perry. She is survived by her two sisters, Mary Lail Anderson and Betty Lail Beard, both of Hickory as well as her three children, Howard Perry (Dawn), Charles Perry, and Elizabeth Perry Robbins (Wayne) and 3 grandchildren, Taylor, Emily, and Rebecca, and 1 great granddaughter, Evelyn Blake. Shirley was born July 14th, 1935, the youngest of 6. She often helped out in her father’s grocery store as a child. She also talked fondly of her horse she had as a young girl named Ginger. She attended St Stephen’s High School and was a member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Shirley, upon graduating high school, attended Watts School of Nursing in Durham NC, where she was a member of a Sorority and one of many sorority sisters to the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Duke University where she met her future husband, Howard. Shirley was a compassionate and caring nurse who always went above and beyond to care for her patients, first in Pediatrics then changing her specialty to Labor and Delivery. Shirley also was the President of the Junior Womens League in Shelby NC and was a nurse with the county during her “off” time aiding and caring for rural farm families and their children. Shirley never knew a stranger and always offered her help in the form of food, shelter or a shoulder to lean on, never putting herself first. And not just the human kind of compassion. Shirley rescued many animals including, birds, squirrels, cats, and dogs. Her favorite quote was “when you are in the service of others you are in the service of the Lord”. After Shirley left nursing she pursued her career in real estate obtaining her Broker license. In her later years she worked in the financial industry, in banking, until her retirement. She was a phenomenal grandmother and loved with all of her heart. She had a great sense of humor and loved telling jokes and getting others to laugh with her. She enjoyed traveling, especially with her sister and dearest friend, Mary. Although there is so much more that can be said of Shirley and fond memories to share, it can be said she did her very best and left this place better than she found it.