Shirley Marie Abernethy

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The world became a little brighter when Shirley Marie Abernethy was born at Ft. Hood, Texas on 10/18/1962.  We are heartbroken to announce her passing on 12/14/2022, at age 60.  She was airlifted from Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital to Texas Children’s’ Hospital in Houston, Texas after suffering a catastrophic heart failure.  She has a lifetime of congenital heart disease.  Her heart was just not strong enough to undergo multiple surgeries.  She was surrounded by love from her daughter, Ashley and sister, Sharon.  To honor Shirley’s memory, we are holding a celebration of life at Dossman Funeral Home on 12/31/2022, New Years Eve, at 2:00PM.  We invite anyone who knew her to attend and remember her.  Shirley’s ashes will be buried at North Belton Cemetery on 1/14/2023 with a private family ceremony.

We were blessed to have had such a special, beautiful person in our lives who spread joy, happiness, and laughter everywhere she went.  Shirley was not an ordinary person.  It seemed that she was always struggling with serious challenges from being deaf to heart disease and all things in between and even a devastating stroke which affected her mentally.  It impacted on her ability to make decisions and to think clearly.  She never gave up on herself or what she wanted out of life.

Shirley spent her younger life with her family moving from one Texas town to another with the hope of finding the best school possible to assist in education and sign language, and finally finding the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin.  She graduated with her GED in 1984.

After having her two daughters, which she was thrilled about.  She later worked at Texas Instruments, Inc. in Temple where her talents were quickly put to use.  Funny videos of people, especially animals, were a favorite pastime and she loved to be teased.  Laughter would fill the room.  This interest in animals was shown through her certification as a Veterinary Assistant and her pets: Lilly and Rhylli.

Shirley’s grandchildren were the light of her life.  Her relationship with her daughter, sister, and brothers were cherished.  Growing up with her was enormously pleasurable and having her for a mom was a gift.

Some of Shirley’s quirks and there were many include saving the soda top tabs, saving aluminum cans, saving potato chip bags, saving tiny newspaper clippings, and saving plastic pudding cups to later make something out of them.  Shirley would just stand there as we swept the floor, and she would point and tell us we missed a spot.  One thing that particularly stands out is using her finger to lick up the rest of whatever she was eating at the time.

One of Sharon’s fondest memories was playing on the swing set and pushing her on the tricycle.  She was the mascot for the Brady High School Pep Squad.  Other memories include hot dog roasts and going to Deaf club meetings.  Shirley was very active in the Deaf Clubs in Central Texas, taking particular interest in each member talking to them on her video phone.  She will be sadly missed by the entire deaf club.

Shirley particularly enjoyed her grandchildren, spending time with them, playing with them, and teaching them was one of her fondest interactions.  Some of Shirley’s hobbies are crocheting, club activities, shopping, running errands, and taking trips out of town.  She enjoyed arts and crafts and reading the newspaper.  She always knew the latest news and weather.  Although she was deaf, she still enjoyed listening to music, feeling the beat through touching.  She would always help no matter what if you asked her.  Other television shows she loved were “General Hospital”, Dancing with the Stars”, “The Good Doctor”, and “Yellowstone.  Shirley had a sweet childlike personality that everyone loved.  She was cheerful, happy, exciting, sincere, and loveable, but don’t make her angry.  She was an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, cousin, and friend.

Shirley Marie is survived by her daughters, Ashley and Brittany, her sister, Sharon, her brothers Mike and Craig; her grandsons, Ethan, Trent, and Elijah and several cousins first and second.

Shirley was loved by everyone who knew her.  Christmas was her favorite time of year, and we will honor her memory as such.  She touched the lives of so many people.  She will truly be missed and will never, ever, be forgotten.