Shirley Louise Dunegan Rosa, 79, of Montgomery, Texas returned to our Lord on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 after a courageous and valiant battle with pancreatic cancer for over two years. Not once did her Grace, Strength or Dignity ever waiver.
Shirley, the 6th of 10 children, was born on December 15, 1941 in Wichita, Kansas to George and Leotha Dunegan. She spent most of her childhood in Kansas but later moved with her family to Tulsa, Oklahoma in search of better medical care for her younger brother Mike. Shirley began working in the kitchen at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa at the age of 15, giving half of her earnings to support her family. She met John Joseph Gutkowski (Joe) at her sister Pats' wedding in Texas. After finishing high school in Oklahoma, Shirley moved to Texas and in with Pat and her husband Clarence until her marriage to Joe in 1960. Together, Shirley and Joe had three children; Joe, Sharon and Tracey. After losing her husband in 1964, Shirley went to work for a local oil & gas company as a secretary. In 1966, she met and married Wayne Roger Rich. Together, following Wayne’s career as a salesman, they set out on many adventures taking them to California, Florida, and eventually back to Texas. During her marriage to Wayne, Shirley obtained her Brokerage license and started a successful Real Estate Company, AAA Properties in Magnolia, Texas. After the death of her second husband Wayne in 1975, Shirley sold the company and went on to purchase 10 acres on Lake Conroe and build and operate the very successful Bridgecove Marina, which she owned and operated for several years. After the sale of Bridgecove, Shirley purchased a convenience store in Montgomery Texas, 1 Stop Grocery, that she operated and eventually sold. Shirley met Rudy C. Rosa while working at Bentwater Country Club on Lake Conroe. Shirley and Rudy were married in 1992 and during the 19 years of their marriage they owned and operated a Logan Farms Honey Glazed Ham store in Humble, Texas and then Amish Lawn Designs on Hwy 105 in Conroe, Texas. Shirley, always needing a project, went on to work miscellaneous jobs until Rudy's death in 2012.
Ever the spiritual giver, Shirley set out to volunteer at her Parish of more than 40 years, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe Texas. There she spent time helping the underprivileged through the St. Vincent DePaul Society, giving of herself always to those in need.
Throughout all of her entrepreneurial adventures, Shirley met and befriended a multitude of people and always kept Jesus and her unyielding faith with her. But most of all she gave everything to her family. She was the Great Gatherer, always seeking to bring her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren together. As “Nanny”, her greatest joy over the past 12 years of her life was her great-grandchildren. She was a constant figure in their lives; attending school functions, sporting events, dance and music events, wherever they were, she wanted to be. A devout and totally selfless individual, Shirley exemplified unconditional love every second of every day and lived for her family.
Shirley is survived by her three children: Joseph Patrick Gutkowski and wife Susan, Sharon Kay Cockrell and husband Colby, Tracey Lea Larson and husband Don; Her stepchildren Sheryl Evans and husband Brian, Theresa Rosa and Mike Rosa. Her eight Grandchildren; Christin Warmbold, Jennifer Womack, Ashley McGee, Brandon Larson, Patrick Gutkowski, Michelle Schaefle, Will Gutkowski, and Alexa Gutkowski; Eight Step Grandchildren; Chance Cockrell, Ashtyn Cockrell, Josiah Bivens, Nathan Bivens, Maelyn Bivens, Travis Cockrell, Tatyana Evans, and Ben Rosa; nine Great-grandchildren; Brayden Womack, Kinley Womack, Adelaide Mcgee, Rayceen Warmbold, Olivia Mcgee, Clare Gutkowski, Bryleigh Womack, Westin Warmbold and Presley Schaefle.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, Texas on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at 12:00pm. Memorial mass will follow at 12:30pm.
To leave condolences for the family, please go to cashnerconroe.com
