Shirley Ann (Hooper) Armstrong

On October 15, 2022, Shirley Ann Armstrong was surrounded by her loving family at Baptist Health Floyd when she joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ​Shirley was born on December 4, 1936, the youngest of three children to Curtis Edward Hooper and Marion Evelyn Brooks. ​Shirley left school in the sixth grade to care for her first bonus mother (Flora Belle) when she fell ill with tuberculosis. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona with her family, shortly after. ​In 1951, in Phoenix, Shirley wed Jimmy Craig Duddy, and the couple and had three children, Saundra Pauline, Marilyn Lee, and James Joseph Edward. Shirley and her three young children later moved to Charlestown, Indiana, where ​Shirley worked as a single mother holding various cook positions at local restaurants. Shirley married Lee Duncan and later had a daughter, Laurie Ann, in 1968.  Although Shirley and Lee’s marriage did not work out as they had hoped, they remained lifelong friends. Shirley was a devoted family caregiver, homemaker, and loving daughter, wife, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, mother, bonus mother, grandmother (with her endearing titles of “Memaw,” and “Mammaw”), great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Shirley spent many hours on the telephone with her two older sisters, laughing, bickering at one another, gossiping, and talking about all of the primetime television shows they were watching “together” when they were on the telephone.  The three of them talked on the telephone several times a day, every day.  The family honestly believes that “three-way calling” was invented specifically with the three “Hooper Sisters” in mind.​ Shirley’s favorite pastimes were keeping up with her daily gameshows (“The Price is Right,” “Wheel of Fortune,” and “Jeopardy!”) and sometimes indulging in reality shows such as The Bachelor, Shark Tank, and The Amazing Race.  She also regularly read her Bible and still sent handwritten birthday, anniversary, and holiday cards to family and friends. ​In addition to her parents, Curtis Edward Hooper and Marion Evelyn Brooks, Shirley was preceded in death by her very special second bonus mother (Ananna Parks Hooper), her two older sisters (Ora Mae Thornhill and Evelyn Louise Thomas), her eldest daughter (Saundra Pauline Nifong), her youngest daughter (Laurie Ann Florence), and granddaughter (Brittney Leigh West). And third husband, Arthur Armstrong. ​Shirley is deeply missed and forever loved by her two surviving children: Marilyn Greenwell (Michael) and James Duddy (Shannon); her step-daughter, Heather Armstrong; her ten remaining grandchildren: Craig Nifong (Becki), Byron Nifong (Julie), Jimmy Duddy, Jr., Clarrisa Wells (Chris), Savannah Wallace (Nathan), Kristen Barr (Darrell), Jake LaClair (Tabby), Samantha Duddy, Devin Duddy, and step-grandson Michael Hardy; her ten great-grandchildren: Andrew Nifong (Kayla Danielle), Kaitlyn Johnson, Kayla Nifong, Abigail Johnson, Ethan Shewmaker, Mikayla Barr, Kennedy Wells, Kynton West, Austin Wells, and Brantley Barr; and her two great-great-grandsons, Lincoln Gabriel Nifong and Thorin Andrew Nifong.  Shirley is also survived by her former husband and one of her dearest friends, Lee Duncan.  She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. ​The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the staff and residents of Silvercrest Nursing Home for the utmost care and love they gave to her during her final years. ​Grayson Funeral Home in Charlestown has been entrusted for overseeing Shirley’s final care.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on October 22, 2022, with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m., with a brief graveside burial service at Charlestown Cemetery.

​Expressions of sympathy be directed to any of the following organizations: American Heart Association, Mercy Street Recovery (Corydon, IN), WHAS Crusade for Children, or National Multiple Sclerosis Society.