Ms. Mhairi Kerr Livingstone Paisley (Frank) died unexpectedly on Jan. 22, 2018, in Sheffield, Alabama at the age of 77. Mhairi previously resided in Killen, Alabama and in Great Neck and Port Washington, New York.
Mhairi is survived by her son, Craig Paisley of California, and by her former husband, Dan Paisley, of Arizona. She is also survived by her brother, Tom (Margaret) Livingstone; uncle, George Livingstone; aunts, Jess, Margaret, Esther, and Agnes; nephew, William Livingstone; and nieces, Sheelagh Goodwin, Dawn Broad, Claire Wilson, Sarah Livingstone, and Kirsty Tapley, all of Great Britain.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, William and Sheilla; her aunt, Janet; and by her niece, Angela Livingstone.
Mhairi is also survived by many, many friends.
Mhairi was born on Jan. 19, 1941, in Newton Village, Scotland to William Clark Jackson and Mary Watson (née Kerr) Livingstone. In 1958, she graduated from Buckhaven High School in Fife where she excelled at sports. She married Dan Paisley in 1962 and in 1965 moved to the United States. While living on Long Island Mhairi had a career, supported the Berkshire School where her son was in attendance, played tennis, and participated in the family business. In the 1990s Mhairi relocated to Killen where she threw herself into supporting her new community.
Mhairi loved to garden. She was the first president of the Shoals Master Gardeners and most recently served on the Sheffield Beautification Tree Board. Mhairi loved and supported the arts. She was a decades-long member of the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts volunteers organization and served as the chairperson of the Arts Alive Festival for more than 20 years. Mhairi loved her dogs, took in nearly every stray who crossed her path, and supported numerous rescue organizations. Mhairi was extremely intelligent and loved to challenge her mind. She was a member of the Firenze Study Group and remained relevant and vital for all her days.
Many people will best remember Mhairi’s lilting voice and smart conversation. She was a true patron of the arts and, while this community will not hear her voice again, her profound influence will continue to live.
A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at Temple B’nai Israel located at 201 E. Hawthorne St., Florence, AL. A reception at the temple will follow. Nancy Tunick and Carl Gebhardt will officiate. Please join us in celebrating Mhairi’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Weimaraner Rescue of the South at weimrescue.com.
