Shirley Ann Bynum

Our loving mother, Shirley Ann Bynum, is reunited with her husband of 54 years and her Heavenly Father both of whom she loved very much. While we will miss her terribly, we are comforted and blessed with the message she gave us before she transitioned to be with her Maker. She said, “Jesus is so beautiful. We must tell everyone about Jesus. No tears. I’m so happy!”

Shirley grew up attending an all-girl Catholic school in Poughkeepsie, NY. Her mother was hospitalized in an institution with tuberculosis for twelve years leaving her father and the nuns at her school to raise and support her during that difficult time. Shirley loved to sing and perform. At the young age of 10, she went to New York City where she auditioned for a singing contest and won first place singing a rendition of Betty Hutton’s “Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief”.

Shirley met the love of her life while attending a military ball at West Point in Upstate New York. After a brief courtship, our parents married on August 4, 1956. They moved from Poughkeepsie to Texas within a few short years after spending a brief time in Seattle, Washington. Mom and Dad lived in San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and College Station before settling down in Spring, Texas where they lived for 25 years. They moved to Lake Conroe in the mid-nineties where our family has many fond memories swimming in their pool and jet skiing on the lake. Our family would describe Shirley as a strong, classy Catholic lady who wouldn’t go anywhere unless her hair and makeup were done, and she had a new outfit for any occasion including her doctors’ appointments.

In her early twenties Shirley worked as a secretary for Boeing Airplane Company. After raising five daughters, Shirley went back to work opening a successful secretarial business that involved a telephone answering business and a resume and typing service. She also did clerical work, research and prepared reports for our father’s investigative engineering business. Eventually an office manager, Diane Milano, was hired. Diane and her husband Hugh were not only a godsend to the business but also became close friends. Our mother enjoyed and looked forward to their many homemade meals always ending with Hallmark movies.

Shirley’s love and compassion for others will live on through our family. And what a legacy she leaves behind! Our mother was blessed with 4 loving daughters who cared for her compassionately until her death. She leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Surviving family members include daughter Deborah Ann Brown and husband Kent Brown, their three sons, Dr. Nicholas and Kelcie Brown of Chicago, Gabe and Mary Brown of Austin, Ben and Myklyn Brown of Austin; daughter Catherine Elaine Webster and husband Marvin Webster, their daughters Abby and Jeff Parsons and great-grandson Bryce of Spring; Vanessa and Jon Harper and great grandchildren Jonathon and Julia of Houston; daughter Jody Beth Johnson and husband Robert Johnson, sons, Douglas Richards and family, Bobby of San Marcos, Cody of San Antonio, and Jeremy of Boerne; and daughter Tammy Lynn Gubser and husband Marlin Gubser, son Matthew and girlfriend Jessica Flores, daughter, Megan and fiancé Nick Ferree, daughter Maddy and son Mason of Spring, Texas.

Shirley Bynum is preceded in death by her husband Dr. Douglas Bynum, Jr.; beloved daughter, Cynthia Lou Bynum; grandson Zachary Sheldon Brown; and granddaughter Emilee Ann Brown. Also, her parents, Victor and Emma Wirhouski and sister, Joan Lombardi of Poughkeepsie, New York;

Please join us as we host a Celebration of Life for Shirley at Metcalf Funeral Directors, Friday, December 27, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm: 1801 E White Oak Terrace, Conroe, TX 77304. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, December 28, at Sacred Heart Church from 9:30 - 10:30 am: 109 North Frazier St., Conroe, Texas 77301

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in her memory to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In the memo line of the check, please note “GLOM in memory of Shirley Bynum” (funds will go towards the new church). Mail to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 704 Old Montgomery Rd, Conroe, TX 77301.

John 14:1-4

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

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