Shirley "MawMaw" Eastep

Beautiful, strong and known as “everyone’s MawMaw” best describes Shirley Eastep. With broken hearts, we said goodbye to our sweet Momma on Sunday, October 24th, 2021. We’re thankful that she passed away at home where she had lived for over 50 years and now walking the streets of gold while holding our Daddy’s hand, Sammie “PawPaw” William Eastep.

Many people around town knew her as the sweet lady who worked for Kirk’s Dry Cleaners for nearly 18 years where she made many friends. To this day and although she hasn’t worked there in a few years, we can’t go to any restaurant or store without running into somebody she knows and who would welcome her with open arms. Over the past week, countless people have said how special she was to them and how they thought of her as their own MawMaw.

The strong or tough part of her came naturally as she took care of our Daddy through his years of having Alzheimer and, after he passed away in 1999, she always said that he was the love of her life and never wanted to be with anyone else outside of their little dog named Chester. After a major car accident in 2019 when the doctors had thought she wouldn’t make it past the weekend, she recovered beyond all of our imaginations and even with osteoporosis where she could barely hobble around on a walker, it would not stop her from going down the road to grab the meatloaf special at Frank’s country store or to stop off at Whataburger (loved it as much as our Daddy did). Her zest for life was astounding!

Born on August 7, 1939 in Hearne, Texas to Clifford Thorpe and Pauline Hancock who preceded her in death, Shirley leaves behind her sister Linda Valerian of Caldwell, Texas and her brothers, Johnny Thorpe of Magnolia, Texas and William Thorpe of Conroe, Texas. She also leaves behind her children, Carolyn Lane of Kingsland, Texas with her husband Mark Lane, Pam Eastep of Bryan, Texas, Randy Eastep of Franklin, Texas and Gwen Hill of Cypress, Texas with her husband Jon Hill along with numerous grandchildren: Patti Buckhaults (Pam), Natalie Perdue (Pam), Zachary Hill (Gwen), Trenton Hill (Gwen), Randall Eastep (Randy), Brook Spradling (Randy), Kyle Nash (Randy), Kristie Clark (Randy), Randi McAleese (Randy) and step-grandchildren: Eric Lane (Carolyn) and Dyan Youngblood (Carolyn) and many wonderful great grandchildren and relatives.

Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sammie “PawPaw” William Eastep and her grandchildren Carolyn LeAnn Norris (Carolyn), Michael Cates and Melissa Cates (Pam) and Keith Eastep (Randy) and great granddaughter Brilei Eastep (Randy) along with numerous brothers and sisters: Weldon Thorpe, Jerry Thorpe, James Thorpe, Richard “Gene” Thorpe, Clifford Lee Thorpe, Walter Thorpe, Martha Eastep, ImaFaye “Sister” Tedrow and Alice Molina.

In honor of Shirley “MawMaw” Eastep, please join us for the visitation on Thursday, October 28th, 2021 at 6 pm to 8 pm (closed casket) at Memorial Funeral Chapel, 1515 S. College Avenue, Bryan, Texas with funeral services following the next day on Friday, October 29th, 2021 at 1 pm. A graveside service will follow (no procession) at 3:30 pm to be held at James Cemetery (Camp Creek) on James Cemetery Road in Franklin, Texas. Please join us for food and fellowship at MawMaw’s afterwards at 6340 Steephollow Circle Drive, Bryan, Texas (food may be dropped off on Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm or Friday morning from 9 am to 11:30 am).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialfuneralchapelbryan.com for the Eastep family.