Shirley Dee Gossard

Visitation will be at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home on Sunday, July 13th, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at Broadview Baptist Church on Monday, July 14th, at 10:00 a.m. A private graveside ceremony will be held at Potosi Cemetery at a later date.

Shirley Dee Gossard was born on March 10,1952, to William Archie and Norma McKee. She grew up in Potosi and attended school at Wylie. During her time at Wylie, Shirley fell in love with basketball. She played basketball through her senior year and helped lead her team to victory in the state championship game of 1970. After high school, Shirley received a Bachelor's in Education from McMurry University and later, a Master's degree in Gifted and Talented Education from Hardin Simmons University. Shirley taught first grade for 30 years at Hawley Elementary and later Regan Elementary. She loved teaching children to read and giving them the skills needed to live up to their full potential. She saw that potential in everyone she met, student or not. In the early 1980s Shirley attended Pioneer Dive Baptist Church and met the love of her life, John Gossard. They hit it off quickly and were married on August 6, 1983. Through her marriage to John, Shirley gained a bonus son, Patrick. Three years later, John and Shirley had a daughter, Katie. Shirley adored being a wife and mother. She was a mother figure to her daughter's friends as well. Shirley retired from her first career in 2004, but she wasn't finished teaching. Above all else, Shirley loved the Lord. After teaching, Shirley worked for Vernon Ferguson, the missions pastor at Broadview Baptist Church. It was at this time that Shirley attended a conference and was introduced to Christian Women's Job Corps. She felt the call to start a branch of CWJC in Abilene. Shirley went from teaching young children, to teaching women skills needed to join the workforce and love Jesus with all their hearts. She truly led by example. Sometime around 2016 Shirley retired a second and final time to become a full- time Gigi. She adored her granddaughters and spoiled them every chance she got. Athlete, Educator, Wife and Mother, Minister, Gigi. Shirley wore many hats. She ran after the Lord and never looked back. Even when life circumstances seemed daunting, her favorite saying was, “God's got this.”

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Norma and Archie McKee; her step-son Patrick Gossard; and her husband John Gossard.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Katie Green and her husband Richard; granddaughters, Bria and Keira; sisters, Pat Howe and Karla Sterling and her husband Chuck; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and other extended family members.