Hilda J. Shivley

Hilda J. Shivley died at her home in Pocahontas on Saturday, November 27th, at 89 years of age. She was born on July 9, 1921, in the Noland Community, the eldest daughter of Jim and Daisy Shivley. Miss Shivley was the quintessential career woman retiring after 47 years of federal government service, first at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. during World War II and later at the VA Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. where she spent many years as executive assistant to the Chairman of the Department of General Surgery. She filled a variety of critical roles in the surgery residency training program and gained lasting fame as the go-to person when anything needed to be done quickly and done well. Many surgeons around the state and country have fond memories of "Mss Hilda" and continue to appreciate the influence she had on their early careers. A lifelong Methodist and Yellow Dog Democrat, Miss Shivley was a committed citizen of her community, first in Little Rock and after retirement in Pocahontas. She had an insatiable curiosity, a phenomenal memory, and a steel-trap mind. She loved politics, especially when the Democrats were winning; and was never happier than when surrounded by a disheveled pile of books and newspapers. She remained a voracious reader until the last day of her life. Miss Shivley was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Daisy Shivley of Pocahontas; a sister, Anna Belle Choate of LaCenter, Ky.; and a brother, Clark Shivley of Jackson, Tenn. She is survived by a brother, James Shivley of Bandon, Ore.; nieces, Trudy Hartis of Chesapeake, Va. and Susan Potts of Warner Robins, Ga.; nephews, Mack Shivley of Beaverton, Ore., Norman Shivley of Edmonds, Wash., John Shivley of Alexander, Wash., Preston Shivley of Jackson, Tenn., and David Choate of Charlotte, N.C., along with many cousins, grandnieces and nephews and friends. Her closest Pocahontas family has been cousin Neil Ragan and her "ladies-in-waiting" Maxine Richardson, Marlene Hart, Erma Stanfill, Judy Brandon, and Debbie Barnett. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 30th at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas. Funeral will be on Wednesday, December 1st at 2 p.m., in the Chapel of McNabb Funeral Home with Fred Hunter officiating with interment to follow in Masonic Cemetery. ln lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital or Heifer International. Pallbearers include: John Shivley, Preston Shivley, Clark Preston Shivley III, Russell Fagnant, Warren Ragan, and Neil Ragan.