Shirley Neal Carson

Shirley Neal Carson was born on November 23, 1934 in Beaumont, Texas to Fairford and Lucille Slaten. Shirley grew up in Oklahoma City where she attended Classen High School and then went on to attend and graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s degree in English. She later obtained her Master’s Degree in Christian Education from the Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.

After college, Shirley worked as the Director of Christian Education for Beacon Hills Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. After some time, she was offered a position to work at USAA, providing automobile coverage for officers in the armed forces. Shirley eventually became the Head of the Rate Correspondence Department and she also spent time speaking with the local service academies explaining to graduating seniors what the company had to offer.

In January 1967, she married the love of her life, Patrick Carson. Patrick was a choir director at a local high school and they met while performing with a summer theater group in Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore." They had two amazing sons, Todd and Sean Carson.

Shirley had the opportunity to support her husband by working alongside him as a piano accompanist for Weslaco High School where Patrick was a choir director and as the organist at the First United Methodist Church in Weslaco where Patrick was the choir director. The family moved to Corpus Christi to be near Patrick’s family and Shirley once again returned to work in the insurance business working for Swantner and Gordon and then for Borden Insurance. Shirley retired from the insurance industry in 2000 but continued to work by doing the bookkeeping for Patrick’s business, Green Diamond Distributors.

After many years of being away from performing, Shirley, along with Patrick, joined and sang with the Del Mar Master Chorus performing concerts in Corpus Christi and even in New York City. Shirley’s whole life was focused on the love and support of her husband and family.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Carson; and her father, Fairford Slaten; and mother, Lucille Slaten.

Shirley is survived by her sons, Todd Carson & Daughter-in-law Jeanne Carson (Pflugerville, TX), Sean Carson & Daughter-in-law Charlotte Carson (Flower Mound, TX); Grandchildren, Brendan Carson & Wife Stephanie Carson (Flower Mound, TX), Lauren Carson (Pflugerville, TX), and Stephen Carson (Pflugerville, TX).

A public visitation for Shirley will be held Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. An entombment will occur Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415.