Shirley A. (Brewer) Backward

Shirley Ann (Brewer) Backward of Norman was born on May 27, 1935 to Edna Mae (Brewer) Gann in eastern Oklahoma. She passed on June 4, 2018 at the age of 83.

Shirley worked at Dillard’s in Sooner Mall in men’s fragrances for many years, before retiring in 1995 to care for her new grandson, Tanner. She doted on Tanner, and one of their favorite activities was cooking and baking together. They were always baking cookies and cakes for their family. Shirley was very artistic, making beautiful flower arrangements and taking up a variety of art projects. She loved to play Bingo and board games and to watch The Price Is Right (back in the good old days when it was hosted by Bob Barker) with her grandson. She was an avid reader and a local sports fan. If there was an OU football game or a Thunder basketball game on, you could be sure she was watching it, cheering from her living room.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Terri Calloway and husband Jim of Norman, and their son Tanner. She also leaves behind her cousin, Sharon Graham of Lexington, South Carolina, who was more like a sister to her.

There will be an informal celebration of her life at her daughter’s home on Friday afternoon.