Shirley Anne Froehner Rhoades

Shirley Anne Froehner Rhoades, was born October 6, 1939 in Gonzales, Texas to Estelle Kattner and Elmar Froehner. She went to be with her Lord on September 30, 2014 at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. She grew up on the family farm in Monthalia, Texas and lived with both her parents and grandparents, which made her the family-oriented person we all love. She graduated as salutatorian from Gonzales High School. After graduation, Shirley attended Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing graduating in 1960 as valedictorian. In the 1980’s she obtained her Bachelor of Liberal Studies from St. Edward’s University.

She was united in marriage to James Rhoades on July 16, 1960 two days after she graduated from Nursing School. She worked as a registered nurse in surgical services and in physician offices – most notably Jerome Ravel, M.D. with whom she worked for nearly twenty years. Her work with patients continued when she worked for Dennis Cole at Austin Prosthetics Center. She ended her nursing career in Surgical Services in a couple of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. She was active with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Alumni Association of Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing. In 2008, she was selected as the periOperative Nurse of the Year by Austin Area AORN.

Apart from nursing, she was active in several other areas of community. She was an active member of Memorial United Methodist Church for 50 years, where she sang in the choir and rang bells, served on numerous committees and held many offices. After she was no longer employed in full-time nursing, she served on staff as the Financial Coordinator for five years and volunteered for so many ministries, it was difficult to find the church open without Shirley being involved.

Shirley was an avid UT fan, attending home football games for many years. She loved most spectator sports, especially those of her granddaughter, Hannah Smith. Shirley spent many hours making quilts for family, friends and new babies.

Shirley is survived by her husband, James, her daughter Laura Smith and son-in-law Kendall Smith; grandchildren Joshua and Lexi Smith, Genesis and Smith Cornell, Tyler Moore and Hannah Smith; great grandchildren Cheyenne, Sophia and Toby Cornell and Eleanor Smith; brother, Stan Froehner and sister-in-law Sandra and numerous colleagues and friends. She was anxiously awaiting the birth of her fifth great-grandchild in December. Shirley was welcomed into heaven by her daughter, Lisa Gail Rhoades and her parents Elmar and Estelle Froehner.

The family especially wishes to thank Dr. John Dalrymple, Dr. Brant Victor and the staff at St. David’s Medical Center for their excellent and compassionate care of Shirley in her last week.

Services will be Monday, October 6, 2014 at 10:30 am at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Memorial UMC or Brackenridge Alumni Association.