Shirley June Smith

family near. She asked that people celebrate her life "as I am happy to be going home to live with my

Heavenly Father and said recently that she felt it was time to go because "I am 87 and I have had quite a

ride."

She was born in Malakoff TX on July 11, 1931 to Clyde Thomas and Eugenia Fay (Blankenship}

McWilliams, of whom she said it, was "a blessing being raised by loving and Christian parents."

Shirley loved her family and said "God blessed me when he led me to Gene when I was 14 and

again when I married him at 17" and "that I was further blessed with two beautiful children,

Michael Gene and Dona Denise-these three people were my entire world." When her children

were younger she served as grade school room mother for both; was a Cub Scout leader; a

Brownie and Girl Scout leader; a 4-H adult leader; and sponsored the high school youth group

(CYF) and later the college group at her church in Denton for many years. Her home was always

open and was a gathering place for all the neighborhood kids. She loved to tell how her carpet

was worn from the front door to the refrigerator where children could always go to find sliced

veggies for a snack.

Shirley loved children all children and said, "My only real talent was working with children and

loving them." She was never blessed with grandchildren of her own, but she became "Aunt

Shirley" to too many children, most of whom has kept in touch with her over the years.

She was baptized at the age of 12. She and her family joined First Christian Church in Denton TX

in the early 60s and she continued her membership there for life.

Shirley is survived by her children Michael G Smith and his wife Suzan of Dallas TX; her

daughter, Dona D Smith of Hamilton TX; one brother, Ronald P McWilliams of Marietta GA, and

several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her

husband, Gene C Smith of Hamilton, her brother Clyde R McWilliams, and her sister Barbara F

(McWilliams} Goddard.

There will be no public service. However, her family is planning a reunion in her honor to

celebrate her and share her story.

Shirley suggested that anyone wishing to honor her make a donation to Hamilton County Public

Library at 201 N Pecan St, Hamilton TX 76531; to the Michael J Fox Foundation (Parkinson's

disease) at www·michaeljfox.org or Donations Processing, Michael J Fox Foundation, PO Box

5014, Hagerstown MD 251411; or to the Hamilton General Hospital Auxiliary at PO Box 93,

Hamilton TX 76531. A simple suggestion inspired by Shirley is to give a child a book to read or

make time to read to a child.