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Portrait of Shirley Jean Wehmeyer Smith
In loving memory of my mommy

Shirley Jean Wehmeyer Smith

December 14, 1951 – December 30, 2025
Lived 74 years
Oak Dale · Dillsboro, Indiana
🕊️In loving memories of a life gone to soon🤍
Life story

Shirley J Wehmeyer Smith Born to Dorothy Wehmeyer and Ernest Wehmeyer on 12/14/51 in Batesville Indiana Raised in Dillsboro, Indiana.

Married Ronald A Smith on 9/19/1970 in Carrollton Kentucky. Was married for 55 years to her husband and love of her life. In 1973 she had her first born daughter Velvet Smith Witteride on 1/25/1973 Lawrenceburg, Indiana and a second daughter on 9/25/1979 (estranged). Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Shirley was a devoted wife and mom. She loved God, her family and her community that she was raised in.

She loved horses and even rode in the pony express in Cannon, Indiana (2x) she loved to write poetry and love to sing. She wanted to be an attorney but times were very different when she graduated the youngest of class in 1969 at Dillsboro high school.

Shirley, wanted to travel the world. There was so much more to her than anyone ever saw or knew. She was kindhearted but yet hard headed, loved hard.

Shirley was a master of many things, photography, writing and was a smart women that worked very hard to provide for her family all the way to her death at 74.

She had 4 grandchildren she loved dearly Phillip, Kyle Witteride involved in her life and Garrett and Alexis Bennett ( estranged).

She was also a great grandmother to 4 Charles and Hunter Witteride and Sophia and lucy Witteride

And a new great grandmother baby on the way in 11/2/2026.

Which I believe she helped hand pick this bundle of joy specially for us to love and nurture to help all of us to remember the best in the world even in death.

More to come…..

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Photos
Photo book

Shirley’s life, in a printed book

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Lifetime

The world Shirley knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1951
Born December 14
1958
Shirley was 7 when the Hula Hoop craze swept the country
1962
Shirley was 11 when John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth
1974
Shirley was 23 when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency
1982
Shirley was 31 when "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" opened in theaters
1998
Shirley was 47 when "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was published in America
2001
Shirley was 50 when Apple introduced the iPod
2010
Shirley was 59 when Instagram was launched
2022
Shirley was 71 when Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne
2025
Passed away December 30, age 74
Tributes and memories

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Velvet Witteride 27w

Mom it’s me

Mom, It’s been 3 months and 20 days since you’ve been gone, and somehow that feels like both a lifetime and no time at all. I still can’t believe I’m living in a world where I can’t call you, can’t hear your voice, can’t feel your love the way I always did. Today is not a good day. The kind of day where everything feels heavier, quieter, and a little harder to carry. I miss you in a way that words don’t fully capture. I miss your comfort, your understanding, your unconditional love. I miss knowing that no matter what, I had you. There’s so much I wish I could tell you. So many moments I wish I could share. I catch myself reaching for you without even thinking, like my heart still believes you’re just a phone call away. And when reality sets in, it hurts all over again. I hope you know how deeply you are loved. How much you mattered. How much you still matter. Nothing about you has been erased—you live in me, in the way I think, the way I love, the way I remember. I don’t know how to do this without you yet. I’m trying, but some days, like today, it feels impossible. I just want my mom. I love you forever. I miss you more than I can say. Love always, Your daughter

Photo shared by Velvet Witteride
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