Shirley Doris Taylor 

Funeral service for Shirley Taylor, 87, of Alex, OK, will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Alex United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Alex Cemetery. Viewing will be Thursday from Noon until 7:00pm and Friday from 9:00am until 7:00pm.

The angels came at 5:00am Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and escorted Shirley to her heavenly home. Her family and friends had kept constant vigil with her and she went peacefully with her beloved son Kenneth by her side.

Shirley Harris was welcomed into the family by her parents Era Lizzie Allen Harris and Travis Eustace Harris and her brother Lloyd on August 9, 1938 in Roswell, NM, where she lived until age 11 when they moved to Dexter, NM, then to Tatum, NM. After graduating from Tatum High School in May, 1956, she married Hollis Dale Taylor in June, 1956 in Tatum. To this union they welcomed a son Kenneth and daughter Latricia. While Dale served in the Army in Germany for two years, Shirley maintained the home and began her banking career at the Lea County Bank in Lovington, NM. They settled in Alex and after working at Chickasha Bank and Trust for three years, she began working at The First National Bank and Trust in Alex, retiring as an assistant vice president in 2009 after 27 years. Shirley loved her work and the people in the community, and they loved her. As an active member of the community, she was instrumental in the building of the community center and the new water tower. She was also project person for getting the Alex Chamber of Commerce started and served as treasurer. She was on the Alex City Council and also served as mayor. Shirley was baptized while in Tatum, NM and joined the Tatum Methodist Church. She remained a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and her final church home was Alex Methodist Church where she served on committees, church offices, and as treasurer for 17 years. Shirley's favorite local country singer was Gene Watson, and she went to every concert within driving distance. However, her all time favorite was Conway Twitty.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Travis and Era Harris, loving husband of 47 years Hollis Dale Taylor, daughter Latricia Brinkman, and great granddaughter Amber Walters.

She is survived by her son Kenneth and Brenda; grandchildren Adam Brinkman and wife Andrea, Cassie Walters and husband Derrick, Brittni Duggan and husband Bryan, Holly Williams and husband Aaron; great grandchildren Kylee, Zoee, Preslee, Barrett, Theodore, and Iyla; brother Lloyd Harris and wife Melba; niece Kimberly Lancaster and husband Scott; nephew Chris Harris and wife Susie; and five great nieces and great nephews.

Services are under direction of McRay Funeral Home.