Shirley Donoho Burgess

Shirley Burgess was born in Laredo, Texas to John B. and Emma P.Donoho on March 18, 1929. She grew up in south Texas, attended San Diego High School, and was valedictorian of her graduating class. She enrolled at Texas Women?s University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Library Science and English. On February 2, 1949, she married Richard M. Burgess, Jr, and they had three children, Emily, Richard and Jack. Shirley was a devoted wife and mother. She was a dedicated homemaker, and later served as office manager for her husband?s medical practice. She loved literature and music, and she enjoyed participating in ballet, tap and jazz dancing. At the age of forty, she began a rigorous exercise program of jogging and swimming on a daily basis. In her seventies, she altered her exercise regimen to walking briskly on her treadmill and stair-stepper. Shirley loved her church, Faith Lutheran, and she loved her church family. She spoke often and affectionally about the pastors and the parishioners. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers John B. Donoho, Jr, Joseph Donoho, her sister Arvel Donoho Devol, and her nephews John Richard Levy and Tommy Donoho, Jr. She is survived by her sister, Jean Thomas, her brother and his wife, Tom and Jean Donoho, her sons and their wives, Jack and Donna Burgess, Richard and Janie Burgess, her daughter and her husband Emily and Gordon Robertson, and her grandchildren, Jessica Burgess, Danielle Burgess, Trevor Burgess, Matthew Burgess, Jennifer Burgess, Geoffrey Stewart, Barclay Stewart, Sarah Robertson and Laura Robertson.