Shirley Rae Barnett

Shirley Rae Barnett of Smithville, Texas passed away at 12:36 am on November 14, 2025, at the age of 81. She was born in Salina Kansas July 3rd, 1944, to parents Evelyn and Robert Crabbe, later Shirley was adopted along with her sister Judy by Samuel Allison, whom Evelyn remarried.

Shirley had a rocky childhood and was on her own for her teenage years, just trying to figure out life the hard way.

After Shirley left home, she met and married Monroe Burns having a daughter Debra. After divorcing, Debra was raised by Monroe’s mother. Times were hard and she was young, so she did what she thought was best for all.

Shirley moved to Amarillo, where she met Richard W Verden who was serving in the Army. The two later married and had a son Curtis Wayne Verden. They lived in Amarillo for a few short years before leaving due to a tragic loss of a friend during a huge snowstorm that left them stranded for several days. They moved to Austin and later divorced.

Shirley met James F Barnett at Chatliff Controls where they both worked. They got married and became a blended family. After Shirley left Chatliff, she worked for the Department of Aging for the State of Texas where she later retired after 30 years.

Shirley played various sports with James such as softball and bowling. Shirley loved to draw and has several paintings still hanging on the wall of their present home. She was also a very skilled quilter, and loved knitting, sewing, working on puzzles, word games and believe it or not, she loved to play video games! Super Mario Bros was her favorite, and she played it on the original Nintendo. Other things that she loved was playing card games. We spent several holidays playing spades, canasta, hearts, and

dominoes. I remember getting so mad when she sent me to my room to go to sleep until I was finally old enough to join in with family late night games. In her retirement days she recorded all her favorite shows and movies on VHS and DVD and has a room full of about 5000 recorded shows. She had her own On Demand before it became a thing.

She had a competitive spirit like her mother and did not like to lose!!! Shirley LOVED her Dallas Cowboys. There were many holidays where we witnessed the power struggle between families regarding Dallas vs Pittsburgh. Her mom and family lived in Pittsburgh for several years before coming to live in Texas which is why they are team Pittsburgh, but Shirley was a diehard Dallas Cowboy fan. ….. How about them Cowboys!!!!

Shirley and James moved to Bastrop in 1970’s and had a love of animals greater than anyone has ever seen. So much so that there were times she would have 20 or 30 animals inside and around the house. James being the great husband he was, let it be because he knew it made her very happy. She collected her animals from either taking stray dogs off the street or raising them from puppies, she had quite the collection, from Poodles, Great Danes, Pomeranians, Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, and of course a lot of MUTTS. She did not just have dogs, she also had cats, horses, cows, ducks, guineas, chickens, goats, geese, parrots, and fish. She had a big heart when it came to the things she loved. All her animals were treated like kings and queens.

Shirley is a survivor of cancer not just once but twice early on in her life. The last few years she struggled with Parkinson’s, Dementia and Heart issues and bedridden.

Shirley and James were blessed to spend the last 56 years together. She is survived by her husband James, children Becky McGary, Diana Wilkerson, Debra Burns, Curtis Verden (the favorite). Sisters Judy Flowers, Pat Wright and Cathy Lockhart and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Shirley is preceded in death by a son Robert (Bobby) Barnett and her parents Samuel, Evelyn Allison, and Robert Crabbe.

She left us peacefully but not without a fight because she is a Diehard Dallas Cowboy fan. The one of the songs I am sure she will remember from Dandy Don Meridith of the Dallas Cowboys.

“Turn out the lights, the party is over, they say that all Good Things must end!” Mom they only end if you let them.

We will miss her homemade rolls at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner table.

The one thing I will miss hearing you say mom is “ I brought you in this world and I can take you out”. You will be forever loved and missed.

Rest in Peace

Your loving Family