Sheila Mary Duty

Sheila Mary Swanson Duty passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2012, due to complications from end stage Alzheimer’s disease. She was born on March 27, 1923, in Canberra, Australia to Mabel and Arthur Swanson. The family moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1933 where Sheila attended Lauriston Girl’s School. There she met Major John B. Duty, a U.S. Army Officer who was in Australia on R & R while recovering from malaria. They were married on November 27th, 1942, in Melbourne where their daughter Robin was born. After World War II they lived in Maracaibo and Caracas, Venezuela, as well as numerous cities in Texas as John pursued his career with Humble Oil/Exxon.

Sheila was a resident of Houston, Texas since 1967. She was an accomplished golfer (Corpus Christi city champion in the 1950’s) water color artist, calligrapher, and needlepoint designer. She was a past member of the Houston Garden Club and River Oaks Investment Club.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband John and brothers Stuart Swanson and Douglas Swanson. She is survived by daughter Robin Lorraine Duty Birdwell and husband John, grandchildren Ashley Summers Birdwell and Cameron Salter Birdwell. Also surviving are nephew Simon Swanson and niece Jill Swanson McHutchison of Sidney and Melbourne respectively. Charley Neal of Austin, Texas was a loyal and loving friend for the last twenty years. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to caregivers Sheryl Manning, Colleen Robinson, Kenosha Strain, Raquel Rhodes, Annett Johnson, Joyce Jones and Brittney Jones for their love and care during the last five years.

The family will receive friends at a memorial visitation on Friday, March 2, 2012 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM in the stateroom at the Hunters Creek Chapel of Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024. Services will be private.