Ernestine L. Dees, 88, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., formerly of Piggott, Ark., died Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 at her residence.

Born Nov. 2, 1919, in Kennett, daughter of the late John Edward and Nora Jane Brannon Shepard, she was a Jehovah's Witness.

In 1942, she married James Shirley, who died in 1980. She married Herbert Dees in 1952, who preceded her in death in 1982. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Doyle and Bill Shepard; two sisters, Marie Milburn and Betty Ellen Carver; one grandson, Shane Shirley and one granddaughter, Micaela Briesno.

Survivors include one son, Jimmy Shirley and wife, Sue, of Arnold, Mo.; one daughter, Judy Kay Briesno and husband, Art, of Murfreesboro; one sister, Della Wilburn, of Turlock, Calif., one brother, Melvin Shepard and wife, Enola, of Piggott, Ark.; five grandchildren, Matthew Briesno, Jason Shirley, Cindy Graves, Wendy Franklin and Shannon Pulliam and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Piggott with Steve Oliver officiating.

Burial will follow in the Little Flock Cemetery west of Piggott.

Condolences may be made online at www.irbyfuneralhome.com.