Shirley Earnestine Peterman, 87, Rolla, passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Parkside Assisted Living in Rolla.
She was born July 25, 1938, to the late George E. and Ethel Mae (Dugmanics) Davis in rural Maries County.
She was united in marriage to James Edwin “Jim” Peterman Aug.17,1957, in Rolla.
Shirley grew up in Maries County, attending the one-room Davis School. She attended and graduated high school in Rolla in 1956.
Shirley worked many different jobs in her lifetime including Sam’s Tire, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, and the cafeterias at the Rolla Public Schools.
She loved her vegetable and flower gardens and enjoyed canning every summer and was always out on the farm finding blackberries, gooseberries, walnuts and wildflowers.
Shirley and Jim also loved going to auctions, flea markets, antique stores and wherever she could find her blue cornflower Corning Ware and Campbell’s Soup. After Jim passed, she would attend estate sales and antique stores with her children.
Shirley lived on the farm north of Rolla that she and Jim had moved to and made their home for over 60 years.
She was preceded in death by husband, Jim; parents, George and Ethel; son, James Keith Peterman; great-grandson, Connor Peterman; son-in-law, David Alexander; sister, Marilyn (Davis) Seide; and brother, George E. Davis, Jr.
Shirley is survived by children, Jeanie Alexander of Brumley, Steven D. Peterman and wife Becky of Vienna, Sharon L. Rowden of Rolla and Dennis A. Peterman and wife Julie of Westphalia; daughter-in-law, Katy (Brinkley) Peterman of Jerome; grandchildren, Michael Alexander and wife Ashleigh, Shane Alexander, Amanda (Alexander) Barton and husband James, Derek Peterman and wife Ginger, Kevin Peterman, Miranda (Peterman) Luebbert and husband Alex, Makayla Peterman and significant other Tanner Myers, Amber (Rowden) Whitaker and Zane Peterman; 14 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Betty M. Davis, of Vichy.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m.,Thursday, Oct. 16, prior to the funeral service which begins at 11 a.m., at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla.
Interment will be held at the Davis Cemetery, rural Maries County.
Memorial contributions suggested to the Davis Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com.
