Shirley Mae Lewis

Shirley was a life-long learner, gaining her education and experience from the life around her. Think about it, with nearly all the 20th century and beyond from covered wagons, picking cotton and working the fields with the family, to radio, TV, cars, jet planes, men on the moon, computers, cell phones, the internet, there was a LOT to her life experience. Adding to that, she spent her life in varied and diverse employment throughout the years. Many people were touched by her gifts of service, and she served the community well. Her career included cooking at the Toddle House near the UT campus, baking wonderful cinnamon and dinner rolls; a skill she practiced while employed by the AISD cafeteria staff, and continued for many years bringing joy and excess pounds to more than a few. She also put in many years at APC, and after they were acquired, was the first 3M employee to retire in Austin. She was in demand in her later years, providing ironing and alterations for many in the community until her retirement at age 95. Even with all that, she ran a household, stretched a budget, and raised her children and helped raise her grandchildren. Her love of plants and gardening as well as sunrises and sunsets made her a child of nature as well as nurture. She loved people and always had an open hand to help family, friends and strangers. She was a life-long member of Grace Church of the Nazarene.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas (Tommy) Lewis, her sons, Kenneth Jones and Lee Warren Jones, her parents, Shirley and Maude George, sisters, Treva Bright, Sallie Glaze, Alree Frith, Jean Tidwell, and brothers, Frank George, Marlin Sharp and Scott Sharp. She is survived by her children Mona Myers of Austin, Mark and Luann Lewis of Round Rock, Dr. Luke and Joy Lewis of Ft Smith, AR, Machell Lewis of Austin, and sister, Dixie Gill of Jacksonville, FL. There are numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, but especially close were her granddaughter, Emily and great-granddaughter, Elianna who lived with her at the time of her death.

Many thanks for the exceptional care given to her by InHome Health Care and A-MED Hospice as well as her medical care providers in the past years.

Visitation with her family and friends will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin TX on Friday, March 11 from 6-8 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 209 West 27th St., Austin, TX with a brief reception to follow in Kinsolving Parish Hall of the church. Overflow parking at a reduced rate with a church-validated ticket will be available in the UT 27th St. Parking Garage one block east of the church. Interment will be in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, 14619 North IH-35, Pflugerville, TX on Saturday after the funeral and reception. Flowers, especially blooming plants will be enjoyed by her family, but memorial donations to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin or to the church or school of your choice will also be appreciated.