Shirley Rae Smith Olson, wife of R. Blair Olson of Arkadelphia, Ark., died December 16, 2018, at the age of 70, at Hermann Memorial Center in Houston, Texas.  Shirley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 31, 1948, to the late Joseph Theron Smith and Neva Harper Smith.

Shirley was born the third child of 12 and the eldest daughter. She grew up in a family full of music. She enjoyed singing with her siblings, and playing the piano and violin. She graduated from East High School in Salt Lake in 1966.

While at The Church College of Hawaii (now BYU-Hawaii), Shirley met R. Blair Olson. Shirley graduated from BYU in 1971, in Elementary Education. She taught kindergarten and 1st grade in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After Blair's tour of service in Vietnam and Shirley's first bout with cancer, they were married on May 28, 1970, in Salt Lake City.  They are the parents of four children: Dale B. (and Heather) Olson of Fort Smith, Ark.; Scott R. Olson of Greenbrier, Ark.; Ann Marie (and Jared) McKinney of Greenbrier, Ark.; and Darla R. (and Brian) Benedict of Rogers, Ark. Shirley and Blair have 18 grandchildren.

Shirley enjoyed teaching elementary school in Utah, Idaho and Arkansas. She earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Henderson State University. She served for thirteen years as the office manager of the Arkansas Counseling Association. In 1995,  she along with her husband received the distinguished professional service award to the Arkansas counselors.

She was a member of the Hot Springs-Arkadelphia Community Orchestra and several church and community choirs. She taught piano from her home and introduced many children to the magical world of music.

Shirley was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She served in various capacities teaching children, youth, and adults. She also served in leadership positions in the LDS women's Relief Society. She loved leading and accompanying choirs at church.

Shirley was an avid quilter and seamstress. She was well known for organizing quilting bees and was a member of the Clark County Quilters Guild. Dozens of her grandchildren, nieces and nephews and friends and family were on the receiving end of her quilting love.

She often said her true and noblest calling and legacy was her family. Her greatest accomplishments were that of a faithful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and disciple.

Shirley was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Smith, and two sisters, Nancy Smith and Wanda Wood, two grandsons, Bruce and Jeremiah McKinney, and her parents J. Theron and Neva Smith.

She is survived by her husband, R. Blair Olson; 4 children and 16 grandchildren - Dale Olson (Max, Sally, Joey), Scott Olson (Madison, Ashleigh, Branson), Ann Marie McKinney (Emily, Cole, Luke, Jack, Clark, Molly, Maggie), Darla Benedict (Noah, Adam, Harmony); and her siblings - Steven Smith, Wilma Fullmer, Pam Werner, Wendell Smith, Becky Johnson, Barbara Quadri, David Smith, and Bryan Smith.

Funeral services for Shirley Olson will be held on December 28, at 9:30 a.m. at Arkansas Hall on the Henderson State University campus in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Burial will be at Arkansas Veterans Cemetery, Sherwood, Ark.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 27th at Welch Funeral Home- in Arkadelphia, from 6-8pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the LDS Humanitarian Fund.

https://give.lds.org/humanitarian