Shirley F. Counts

Shirley Counts, 67, Kingsport, went home to be in the arms of her precious mother, Ethel Counts on Wednesday, December 11, 2013. Born in Clinchco, VA, she had resided in Kingsport most of her life. She had been employed at ITT North Electric and was self-employed until she became ill. Shirley fought a good fight, but lost her battle with cancer. She belonged to the Women of the Moose and Stone Drive Eagles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arvil "Pug" and Ethel Counts; an infant sister and brother; a precious niece and nephew, Jon-Jon and Greg Childress; and her best friends, Geraldine, Anita, Mother Mary, Helen, Jessie and Linda.

Shirley is survived by her devoted sisters and brother, Anna Lee Carter and husband, Gerald of Las Vegas, NV, Edna (Sissy) Renfro and husband, Buddy, Betty Clark and husband, Johnny, Margaret Childress and husband, Don, and Robert Counts, all of Kingsport; four nieces and nephews, Robby Childress and wife, Cindy, Jeff Renfro and wife, Missy, Angie Freeman and husband, Louie, and Sheilia Carter; six great-nieces and nephews, Abby and Olivia Childress, Gabe Renfro, Brayja, and Kylee and Brianna Carter; her companion, Abby, her turtle; God-sons and family, Ted, Angie, Nate and Joe-Joe Frazier, Jimmy Jack, Emily, Konner, Keegan Beck and Jenny Beck; God-daughter, Sherry Stewart Edwards; and her life-long best friends, Danny Vaughn, Rose Fletcher, friends, Glenna Gilliam and Gary and Patty Eagans, and many more friends.

At Shirley's request there will be no visitation.

Graveside services will be conducted at Oak Hill Memorial Park at 12:00 pm on Saturday, December 14th, with Glenna Gilliam speaking.

Pallbearers will be Robby Childress, Jeff Renfro, Ted Frazier, Jimmy Jack Beck, Konner Beck and Joe-Joe Frazier.

In lieu of flowers, Shirley requested memorial contributions be made to the Kingsport Animal Shelter, 2141 Idle Hour Rd., Kingsport, TN 37660, or to the American Cancer Society, 508 Princeton Rd., Ste 102, Johnson City, TN 37601

Special thanks to Dr. David Franzus, and to Kingsport Oncology, especially Rebecca and Joyce and to all of her friends for the food and kind words during this difficult journey. The family would also like to thank Kim, Melissa and Rochelle with hospice for their care and comfort.