Shirley Ozburn Dennis

Shirley Ozburn Farris Dennis-Hagood entered into God’s eternal rest on February 23, 2022,after 97 years on earth in which she radiated love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness to all who knew her.  She was a loving wife to three wonderful husbands who predeceased her, most recently M. Johnson “John” Hagood II.  John and Shirley were married in December of 2017, and they were as happily in love as young newlyweds until John passed away in December 2021. Prior to her marriage to John, Shirley was blessed with 29 years of marriage with Harry Dennis (married 1985 to 2014) and 24 years of marriage with Kelton “Bud” Farris (1951 to 1975).  Shirley was also predeceased by two sisters, Janine Madison (Jim) and Joyce Palmer (Roy).

Shirley is survived by her brother, Pierce Johnson (Nancy), brother-in-law, Roy Palmer (Joyce), and her children, Kelton “Kel” Farris, Jr. (Margaret) and Jana Ringgold (Charlie), as well as grandchildren John Farris (Morgan) and Madison Frazee (Jack).  Additionally, Shirley is survived by many nephews, nieces and other family members.

Shirley was born January 9, 1925, in Savannah, Georgia, and was raised in Fernandina Beach, Florida. She graduated from Armstrong Junior College in Savannah in 1945 and worked as a secretary in U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she met Air Force Captain Bud Farris in 1949. Shirley and Bud were married in October of 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina, and Kel and Jana were born shortly after, in 1952 and 1954.

As a military wife, Shirley and her family had the privilege of experiencing living in numerous places around the world, including Alabama, Virginia, France, Okinawa, Delaware and New Jersey. Bud retired in 1974 as a Brigadier General and returned to his hometown in Conway, Arkansas. After Bud died in 1975, Shirley stayed in Conway and worked at Hendrix College until 1978, when she moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and worked at the Red Cross office.

In 1983, Shirley moved to Winter Park, Florida, and soon after met retired Air Force Colonel Harry Dennis. In 1985, Shirley and Harry were married, and she moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they lived happily until 1999, when they moved to Indian River Estates in Vero Beach, Florida.

Upon Harry’s passing in 2014, Shirley became friends with John and Betty Hagood. When John became a widow, John and Shirley’s friendship blossomed, resulting in their marriage in December 2017. Shirley embraced life to the fullest and embodied the true meaning of grace, warmth and elegance.

The family wishes to acknowledge the love and care of the staff at Indian River Estates, as well as those at Hospice, ensuring Shirley’s final moments were of peace and comfort. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach or Treasure Coast Food Bank.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.