Shirley McClanahan

Shirley Ann McClanahan of Kaufman, TX went to be with the Lord and Kirby on December 22, 2024. Shirley was born in Kaufman on December 30, 1940 to Courtlin and Mildred Belcher. She was a lifelong resident of Kaufman and graduated from Kaufman high school in 1958 where she was a proud K-cadette. She married Donald Kirby McClanahan on February 5, 1959 in Kaufman where they spent a loving 49 years of marriage before he passed away on October 7, 2008.

Shirley was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kaufman and member of the Kaufman Garden Club which she loved and enjoyed learning about decorating her home especially during the holidays. She was known for creating “works of art” by wrapping Christmas presents.

One of her proudest achievements was going back to school later in life attending East Texas State University now known as Texas A&M Commerce to obtain her bachelor’s degree and was the first in her family to do so. She made the Dean’s list twice and was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi. After graduating, she went to work as an art and spanish teacher at the Kaufman Junior High School.

She loved working in her yard trimming trees and shrubs, tending to her flowers and making sure the bird feeders were always full and keeping the squirrels away. She was a passionate reader and amassed an extensive library. She was an avid painter and treasured the times she spent with her mother taking painting lessons and painting many nature scenes but her proudest painting was when she painted Kirby playing baseball.

She enjoyed traveling throughout many states but her favorite state was New Mexico where she and Kirby would travel at least once a year.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kirby and granddaughter Rebecca Torres. She leaves behind cherishing her memories her daughter Monica Torres and husband Hector Torres and her granddaughter Alyssa Ann Torres whom she adored and loved hearing all the latest Hollywood gossip and the latest news about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Her brother Alan Belcher and wife, Melody of Larue, TX, her sister Debra Hagler and husband Gene of Kaufman, TX, niece Rachel Hagler and nephew Derek McClanahan, Brother in law Jack McClanahan and wife Autumn of McKinney, TX and sister in Law Retta McClanahan of Rowlett, TX with whom she had a special bond.

A special thank you to the staff at Your Health Team in Kaufman, TX and Windsor Rehabilitation Center in Terrell, TX.

Shirley will be dearly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorials are made to First Baptist Church of Kaufman and Kaufman County Library.