Shirley Jean Swenson

Shirley Jean Swenson was called home for eternal life by our Heavenly Father May 4, 2016. She was born February 27, 1935, although her certificate of birth states February 28. Shirley's mother said the county recorded it incorrectly — as many home births, like Shirley's, often were. She grew up in Austin's Hyde Park neighborhood, the youngest of four children, attending the Baker School on Avenue B and Austin High School on Rio Grande. She married soon after graduation and raised her family in several Southern communities, including Beaumont, TX, and Huntsville, AL. She returned to Austin in 1970 following her husband's death and took the unusual step of having her loving mother-in-law join her household to help raise the children. Shirley then founded and managed Living Word Bookstore on North Loop, a Christian bookstore that served as a meeting point for so many and the launching of numerous ministries. This active period of her life was greatly satisfying, as she traveled regularly in support of her business, and served as chair of The Austin Christian Business and Professional Women's Club.

All her life, Shirley was a servant of the Lord, and was devoted to her faith. She was a founding member of Grace Covenant church, and spent the last decades of her life as a member of Austin Oaks Church in Southwest Austin. Shirley served her church home in many capacities, as a children's Sunday School teacher, an adult Sunday School leader, and as administrative support for the music ministry.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Norman Lee and Dorothy Pearl Smith; her brothers, Russell (Fritz) and Cecil Walter Smith; her husband, Roland Swenson, Jr; and her parents-in-law, "Big Roland" Swenson, Sr. and Mamynette Swenson, all of Austin. She is survived by her brother, Norman Lee Smith III; her son and his wife, Roland Swenson III and Roseana Auten; her daughter and daughter's husband, Dottie and Brad First; and her grandchildren, Daniel Swenson, Christiane Swenson, and Matthew Ferguson, all of Austin. Nieces and nephews, plus grand-nieces and nephews, also survive her. Last, she had scores of friends, many of them made through church life, but Shirley had a special place amongst a group of lifelong friends who had all attended the Baker School together. Their reunion group will surely feel this loss, as do all of the very many friends and family who knew and loved her.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar Chapel. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery Annex.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Shirley's name to the ministry or charity of your choice.