Shirley Dean Bryan

Shirley Dean Bryan (Stephens), 74, of Pilot Mountain, NC passed at 8:20 a.m. Thursday October 23rd, 2025 at her home. Shirley was born April 30th, 1951, in West Liberty, Kentucky, the daughter of the late William Edison Stephens  and Daisy Faye (Ison) Stephens.  On January 16th, 2007, she was united in marriage to John Ogden Bryan, who survives. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Tracy Sue Crawford and granddaughter MyQia Perry of Ocala, Florida.  A son, Terry Charles Beekman Jr. “Chuck” of Waverly, Ohio. A Granddaughter April Frazie (Brent) 4 great grandsons, Ayden, Bryson, Kingston, and Waylon of Chillicothe,  Ohio. Granddaughter Derian Beekman and 2 great grandsons Harvey and Silas all of Jackson, Ohio. Grandson Terry Charles Beekman 3rd of Jackson, Ohio.Daughter Sylvia Renee Wiemer (Matthew) and 2 grandchildren, Devin and Maddox of Eaton, Ohio. Step son John Lonzo Bryan, 2 step grandson’s Drake and Jasper of Lawrenceville, Georgia.  Shirley is survived by siblings David (Patricia) Stephens, Garry (Eva) Stephens of Waverly,  Ohio. Special brothers, James Stephens of Biloxi, Mississippi and Burland “Jerry” Stephens of Lawrenceville, Georgia and a special sister Teresa Montgomery (Stephens) of Waverly, Ohio. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and 6 brothers Billy, Ronald, John, Dennis, Bobby, and Danny and a special sister Betty.Shirley and her husband John have resided in their home since 2004 in Pilot Mountain, NC. They have enjoyed working together remodeling their home, out buildings, and property over the years. Their home features a beautiful view of the Mountain at Pilot from their living room and the deck that attaches their home via a bridge-like structure to the “in-law suite” John calls it next door. A little slice of Heaven at home. Shirley retired from Walmart a few years back as Department Manager of Pharmacy where she still had many special friends she liked to stay in contact with. Shirley and John had a kennel where they raised show quality English Bulldogs known as Three Oaks Kennel. Many of her dogs received championship quality and some featured in movies and commercials.  She enjoyed a lot of special friends she made in this business, one of which was Steve Price she thought the world of.  Also, she met Shane and Mary Nay who became family over the years.Shirley lived in many different States over the years. Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida before settling in North Carolina.  One of the best times of her life was here in Ohio when she worked as a pipe fitter with her younger brothers Danny and Jerry and her Daddy. The stories she loved tell about those times you could see the joy in her heart what it meant to her. The most important thing in her life was her kids, spouse, and siblings. She was a family girl through and through. You would never find a more dedicated harder worker than Shirley was. She was raised in Kentucky and Ohio on large farms. She wasn’t afraid of anything. If you needed a snake removed or a mouse or spider killed, she was your girl.  She enjoyed working the farms with her parents and siblings.  She loved picking corn with the tractor and having her kids ride the gravity flow wagon so they could dodge the corn hitting them in the head when they wasnt paying attention. She could throw bales of hay as well as any man on the job. She loved the farm animals and enjoyed doing whatever was needed on the farm. There was not a lazy bone in this girl’s body. Shirley was also the girl if anyone she loved had a problem she would go to work to fix it family, friend, or friend of family. Didn’t matter she needed to fix the problem. Anyone who knew her or met her loved her. Anytime family would bring their friends to her home she always made them feel right at home too just like mom always did. A dear special nice, Sheila Tischler, put some of the last smiles on Shirley’s face by making several trips up to do the things Shirley wanted and needed and could no longer do herself. Sheila is the oldest daughter of Shirley’s other special sister, Betty. She was a dear and trusted angel by Shirley’s side and much appreciated by the ones who could not be there for Shirley. Many thanks and blessings wished for her. Shirley has many nieces and nephews she loved dearly too. Also, a few special cousins she loved. Heaven received a most beautiful angel when she left all of us. Until we meet again…….. Shirley has always been very adamant about not having a funeral and to be cremated. Very soon at the convenience of family far off and those near a graveside service will be held at the Stephens Memory Gardens Cemetery on 772 near Buchanan on the family farm. We will announce the date and time as soon as we have it for all family and all friends to join us in saying goodbye to this precious lady.

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