Shirley Ann Trapp

She was married to the love of her life, Calvin C. Trapp, since high school, for 72 years, until his passing on July 13, 2023. Together, they built a strong and lasting family foundation, raising three daughters who were the pride of their lives: Donna Carol Hutchko and her husband Don; Candi Kay Trapp; and Dee Ann Vanderschaaf and her husband Kevin.

Shirley was a woman of Christian faith, having grown up attending Unity Baptist Church for most of her childhood. In her early married years, she traveled with Calvin wherever his work as a pipefitter for Brown & Root took them, often relocating every three months to follow pipeline projects across the United States. In 1964, they settled in Houston, Texas, to raise their family.

A devoted mother, Shirley, remained active in her daughters' education, serving as Room Mother for Carol's entire sixth-grade class. She also continued her own education by becoming a licensed hairdresser, which helped support the family financially while she maintained a warm and welcoming home. She worked at K-Mart as a district manager in the millinery department. Throughout her life, she built lasting friendships wherever she went.

Family traditions were at the heart of Shirley's life. Carol fondly remembers Friday nights when brown Weingarten grocery bags filled with milk, egg salad sandwiches, and potato chips meant one thing — a trip to the Tidwell Drive-In Movie Theatre. She loved bowling nights, dominoes, card games, backyard barbecues, and being surrounded by family.

Shirley's kindness extended well beyond her own children. She welcomed her daughters' friends who faced difficult times at home, offering them safety, structure, and love. Her two simple house rules were: call your mother so she knows you are safe, and be part of the family, which meant helping with chores and showing respect.

Her spirit of service shone through in her work as a Candy Striper Administrator at Parkway Hospital, where she guided teenage volunteers — including her own daughters — in making a positive impact on patients. She organized annual meetings, scrapbook projects, and even an a cappella choir for the volunteers.

Fundraisers often took place at her home, where all-night sewing sessions produced stuffed animals for hospitalized children.

The holidays were Shirley's favorite time of year, filled with the joy of a large extended family, the aroma of home-baked treats, and the warmth of her hospitality.

Shirley is remembered for her unwavering kindness, devotion to her family, sense of humor, faith, cooking skills, and generosity. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and everyone fortunate enough to have known her.

Her life was a true living example of love in action, and her memory will always be a blessing. She showed us that kindness is the greatest legacy one can leave behind.

Although she is no longer with us, her love will always remain as a guiding light for our family.

A visitation for Shirley will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039. Following the visitation will be a graveside from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039.