Shirley J. Wyatt-Cox, who resided in Little Rock, Arkansas, passed on to glory Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in Little Rock. She was born April 8, 1934 in Branch, Arkansas, where she grew up, to the late John Wyatt Sr. and Dorothy (Chastain) Wyatt.  She was 79 years old. She was also preceded in death by a brother, John Robert Wyatt Jr. and a sister, Alicia Wyatt.

Shirley worked for Fort Smith Automotive where she met and married her life-long partner of nearly 59 years, Wayne A. Cox. She retired from Exxon Mobile in Little Rock. She was a 1952 graduate of County Line High School, a caregiver, and a Christian.

She was affectionately known as "Dede" by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  This name simply carried through the entire family.  Her love for her family began with her husband, then her daughter and on and on.  Anyone who knew "Dede" loved her immediately.  Her beauty was not only from the outside but was from the inside, as well.  She had such grace, serenity, a wonderful peace and loveliness about her.  You learned patience and her wonderful smile and laugh.  These qualities will be carried on through her daughter and her family as "Dede" will be missed each day but she lives on...never forgotten...as her blood runs through her child, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, "Dede's" future continues on...Lord, we lost our precious one but You gained another angel on March 18, 2014.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22nd at First Baptist Church in Branch, with the Rev. Tim Hobbs officiating. Burial will be at Hampton Cemetery, located north of Branch, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne A. Cox; one daughter, Ginger Cox-White and husband Paul of Roland, Arkansas; one sister, Barbara Lovell of Branch; three brothers, Jim Wyatt and wife Janie of Fort Smith, Bill Wyatt and wife Jackie of Van Buren, and Phillip Wyatt and wife Nita of Clarksville; five grandchildren, Brodie White, Jessica White, Travis White, Cooper White, and Jake White; two great-grandchildren, Kaylie Johnson and Easton White; and a  multitude of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be John Wesley Wyatt, Michael Wyatt, Darren Wyatt, Chuck Cox, Greg Cox, and Lance Cox.

Family will visit with friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday night at the funeral home.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com .