Class of 1956
1956 Maroon Spotlight
Shirley Henry
Library Staff 53-55, Pep Club 53-54, Junior Play 54-55.
1956 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Shirley Ann Henry, a native of Konawa, was born May 9, 1939, the daughter of Mr., and Mrs. O. O. Henry, 719 jackson street. The family came to Perry in 1951. Previously Shirley Ann had attended school in Shawnee, Mustang, and Banner. She has been a member of the Red Hots pep club and the school library staff. Her hobby is sewing, and English is her favorite subject. She expects to work immediately after graduation, but beyond that her plans are uncertsain
Shirley Ann (Henry) Tearney
May 9, 1939 – November 26, 2025
Shirley Ann Henry Tearney died on Wednesday, November 26th, 2025.
Born May 9th, 1939, in Konawa, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Orville Otis and Pearl Dell (Wilson) Henry. She was the seventh of eight children. At the age of 4, she moved with her family to Shawnee where she attended 2 years of school. Her family moved often and she attended schools in Shawnee, Mustang, Crescent, and Perry. Some of these schools were small country schools. The family moved to Perry in 1951, and she graduated from Perry High School in 1956.
She worked a brief time at Safeway, joined the Exchange Bank, worked at Triton Insurance Company, First National Bank, and Charles Machine Works, Inc. before retiring in 1994.
On December 26, 1957, she married Bill Tearney. To this union three children were born: Kristi Lee Tearney Strubhart, Richard Lynn Tearney, and Karla Beth Tearney Irvin. Shirley and Bill lived in Perry for 59 1/2 years until 2016 when they relocated in Stillwater to a retirement community.
They were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Perry. Shirley served as a deacon, an elder, moderator of Presbyterian Women, and was a Stephen minister. For over 50 years, once a month they were greeters for Sunday morning worship services. She also served as treasurer for many organizations, including United Fund of Perry, Perry Elkettes, and Presbyterian women.
In the Perry area, Shirley will be remembered for making her daughters clothing when they were young; making jams and jellies, and bread – many were given as gifts. Shirley enjoyed making and sending an unexpected card as a way of showing her love. These were fun hobbies for her.
Preceding her in death were a grandson, Geoffrey Bock Tearney, her siblings, and son-in-law, Charlie Irvin.
Survivors include her husband Bill, of Stillwater, children: Kristi Strubhart and husband Joe, of Edmond; Rick Tearney and wife, Gayla, of Stillwater; Karla Irvin of Oklahoma City; five beautiful grandchildren and their spouses: Joseph Strubhart and wife Kendra, Morton Grove, IL; Chelsey Thompson and husband Robbie, Stillwater; Courtney Haxton and husband Chris, Edmond; Lindsey Irvin Sutton, Oklahoma City; and Jesse Tearney and wife Katie, Stillwater; nine great-grandchildren: Addison Thompson, Avery Thompson, Tali Strubhart, Lena Strubhart, Hunter Haxton, Logan Haxton, Owen Tearney, Harper Tearney and Emberlee Davison.
A Celebration of life will be at 10:30 AM on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any charity of your choice or the First Presbyterian Church, Deacons Fund of Stillwater, Oklahoma.