Shirley Ann Porter Russell

Shirley Ann Porter Russell, residing in Albuquerque, NM, died on Friday, April 17, 2020 at the age of 82.  She will be laid to rest at Bluegrass Memorial Gardens in Lexington, Kentucky, next to her husband of 47 years, Alfred T. “Tom” Russell III, who proceeded her in death on April 17, 2003.  A child of Kentucky, Shirley was born on October 28, 1937 in Beaver Valley Hospital in Martin, Kentucky (a small coal mining town) to her proud parents, Ernest S. Porter and Inez Marie Hopkins.  She loved animals of all kinds, but her favorites were horses and cats.  Growing up, she had two horses - Bob and Little Red.  Her horses went to work in the coal mines during the day pulling carts.  After they finished their work day, they became Shirley’s pets.  At Lafayette High School (Class of 1954), Shirley was active in the Business Girls’ Club, Spanish Club and Girls’ Council.  While in high school, she fell in love with Tom Russell (“Tom III”) and married him on March 31, 1956 at the young age of 18.  In December 1956 their first daughter Vicky was born.  With Shirley by his side, and as a young dad, Tom III attended the University of Kentucky, graduated with a professional engineering degree, and was subsequently hired by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) for the next 34 years.  The couple’s second child, son Alfred Thomas Russell IV (“Tom IV”), was born in 1960.  Tom and Shirley’s third child, Julianne, was born in 1965.  Tom and Shirley had several postings with the FHA throughout the United States.  The longest post was in Atlanta, Georgia, and the family of five resided in Stone Mountain, Georgia with Julianne’s dog Brandy, a cat named Angel Marie, and Tom IV’s Doberman Pinscher Sadie Mae.  Many years later, Tom III’s second FHA posting was in Washington, D.C., and the couple resided in Annapolis, Maryland as empty nesters.  By this time, all three of their children were all grown up and married.  Vicky became a mom of four and a registered nurse, Tom IV was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Julianne was a mom of two and a successful small business owner in Georgia.  Tom and Shirley’s last FHA post was in Montgomery, Alabama, where Shirley showcased a very impressive The Cat’s Meow collection.  After Tom III passed in 2003, Shirley moved to Dallas, Georgia to be near her daughter Julianne.  She got to spend a lot of time with her young grandchildren Tyler and Ashley Pannell.  She adopted a cat and named her Lucy Locket.  She was active in the Red Hat Society and volunteered at the WellStar Paulding Hospital gift shop, where she met one of her closest friends, Harriet Goldsworthy.  Another close friend was her neighbor Gail Jelks.  Shirley loved to watch the Keeneland thoroughbred horse races in the fall and was always a big fan of the Triple Crown.  Her favorite horse of all time was Secretariat.  She enjoyed going on a cruise or visiting the Gulf Shore with her friends.  Another passion was watching her favorite Big Blue team, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, compete in men’s basketball March Madness.  In December 2017, Shirley moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to spend time with her son Tom IV and his wife Kathy and their two dogs Jane Air and Thorin.  There she enjoyed the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, spring basketball games, summer baseball games, betting on the horses, and gambling at the casino.  Her new friends, including staff and other residents at her retirement community “La Vida Llena,” enjoyed her feisty and colorful southern mannerisms.  Her first year at La Vida Llena, she was elected the Valentine’s Day Queen.  A devout Lutheran, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Freddie Leonard Porter, her husband Tom III, her sister Nell Porter Jones, and her grandson Justin Tanner.  She is survived by her children Vicky Avila (Robert) of Tucson, AZ; Tom IV (Kathy) of Sandia Park, NM; Julianne Pannell (Mark) of Rockmart, GA; grandchildren Chris Tanner, Rachel (Mark) Mainvielle, Emilio Avila, Tyler and Ashley Pannell; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.  A celebration of Shirley’s life is planned for later this year in Lexington, KY.  Her family feels that her husband Tom III was calling her home when she passed on the same date as he did - April 17.  She was loved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed by her friends and family.  In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Wounded Warriors, your favorite pet charity, or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org.  To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010