Shirley Jean Dawson Reese left this earth on Friday, February 24. She was 86 years old.
Shirley was born in St. Louis, Missouri … attended high school in Arkansas … and, was so very happy to move to Texas for her college education. She met Roland Reese at a mixer between Texas State College for Women (later to be known as Texas Women's University) and Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College (later to be known as Texas A&M University).
Roland and Shirley married on April 21, 1956 and raised a family of three children in Robinson, Texas while working in the family auction business, which included brokering and selling cattle.
Shirley's father was a Mason, and she was part of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Roland was also a Mason, and together they were active for years in Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge, holding many offices.
Along with the family business and her active participation with Eastern Star, Shirley was a Certified Red Cross Lifeguard and swimming instructor, giving swimming lessons for many years to local children at the Robinson Lions Club Public Pool on Moonlight Drive. In her spare time, Shirley also taught piano lessons.
Shirley leaves behind a family that loved her very much: her daughter, Melanie Jean Reese, her sons, Dawson "Buddy" Evans Reese and John Carl Reese with his wife, Nancy, Grandchildren Ryan Douglas Reese and Sarina Katherine Hartzog, as well as Alice Connell Reese and Gary Coffelt with his wife, Gayla.
Services to honor Shirley's life will be held at Connally Compton Funeral home at 4400 W. Waco, Texas 76710. A viewing will be held on Friday evening, March 03, 2023 between 6:00 and 8:00 pm. Chapel services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 04, followed by a graveside service at Robinson Cemetery – 620 E Stegall Rd – Robinson, TX 76706.