Shirley Guest Gschwend of Marvell, Arkansas passed away peacefully on Monday, October 9, 2023 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  She was 65.

Shirley was born in Helena on September 3, 1958 to James and Lucille (Shackelford) Guest.  Growing up, Shirley and her sister, Sheilda were the only girls in their large family.  Mr. and Mrs. Guest always told their sons to look after the girls….a job they took seriously, sometimes to the dismay of the two independent Guest girls.

In 1977, Shirley graduated from Marvell High School, completing her education.  On October 17, 1980, she married her sweetheart, John Wayne Gschwend at the courthouse in Helena.  The couple settled in Marvell and soon two sons joined their family:  Jonathan and Troy.

Shirley was a simple woman who loved to cook for her family.  She didn't have one special dish; she was an overall good cook at anything she tried her hand at making. She was a member of County Line Baptist Church in Marvell and worked as a manager for many years for Dixie Furniture Company.  In her recent years, Shirley managed her son Jonathan's store, Old Town Grocery & Tackle.

Survivors are her husband, Johnny; two sons, Jonathan (Gwen) of Lexa and Troy of Marvell; seven grandchildren, Slay Gschwend, Sawyer Gschwend, Annalane Gschwend, Maris Gschwend, Paige Marsh, Braelynn Hood and Troy Gschwend, Jr.; four brothers, Cletis Guest of Selmer, Tennessee, Kenneth Guest of Marvell, Clarence (Beverly) Guest of Marvell and Newman "Bimbo" (Vetta) Guest of Marvell; one sister, Sheilda Bearden of Marvell; sister-in-law, Lynn Guest of Pangburn; and many other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lucille; and two brothers, Ralph Cavette and Leslie Guest.

A funeral service for Shirley will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023 at the funeral home with visitation one hour before.  Burial will be at Schaffhauser Cemetery in Marvell.