Shirley Orr

Shirley McMahan Orr went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 26, 2025. She was surrounded by her family.  Shirley was a native of Asheville, NC, and had moved to Ocala in 2023 to be closer to family.

She graduated from Biltmore High School, where she played on the girls’ basketball Team.  After high school, Shirley moved to Washington, DC with her sister and worked at the Pentagon until she returned to Asheville to marry Franklin (‘Frank’) Orr. Frank and Shirley had two children, Sharon and Frankie, and were both avid Tarheel Basketball fans.

She attended Calvary Baptist Church and also enjoyed online services at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. Shirley served many years as manager of the Biltmore Dairy Bar. She was a beloved and respected leader by her staff and took great pride in their success.  She carried many of these skills into retirement by hosting events for the Sweetwater Golf And Tennis Club in Haines City, FL, a community she so dearly loved.  Shirley and Frank spent their winters here for 20 years and enjoyed a lovely retirement. Shirley was a social butterfly. She loved to feed people, and this was evident with the love and care she put into every meal, whether it be for her family, a few friends, or for a large group of friends and neighbors.  She touched many lives with her cooking, and we always felt blessed to share one of her delicious meals.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Ruth McMahan; her husband, Franklin D. Orr; her son, Franklin (‘Frankie’) D. Orr, Jr.; her four siblings, Robert McMahan, Patsy Hulse, Doris Souther, and Ralph McMahan; and Roxy, their beloved family pet.  She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Simpson (Tim), and granddaughter, Miranda Shipman (Andrew).  Also special in her life are her cousins, nieces, nephews, and her granddogs, Tyson and Daisy.  The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff at Brookdale Canopy Oaks for their love and compassionate care for Shirley while she was at their assisted living facility.  They became like family to her.

A memorial service will be held in Asheville at Anders Rice Funeral Home on June 27, 2025, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends directly after the service.  Shirley will be laid to rest with her husband and son at Green Hills Cemetery.