Edith "Shirley" Burk Heyman

Edith "Shirley" Burk Heyman celebrated her Heavenly Homecoming at age 90 at midnight on the morning of June 07, 2015. Shirley was born on October 11, 1924 in Menard, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel James J. Heyman (USA, Ret.) and her parents, BB and Flora Edith Burk and her brother, Houston M. Burk. Shirley is survived by her two daughters, Edith Anne Newman and her husband Terry of Plano, TX and Mary Grace Heyman of the People's Republic of China; two granddaughters, Michelle and Heather Newman; three great-granddaughters, Ashley Contreras, Elaina Contreras and Kaitlyn Books; one great-great grandson, Arian. Also surviving Shirley are multiple nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She grew up in Menard and attended and graduated from Menard High School. Shirley graduated from Baylor University in 1945 with a Bachelors in Business Administration, then taught school prior to her marriage. She married her childhood sweetheart, James, in 1949 after his return from World War II and his tour of duty with the Occupation Forces. After marriage and an ice storm honeymoon, Shirley was both helpmate and completer to her husband in addition to being an Army officer's wife. This small-town Texas girl spent much of her married life up and down the East Coast, in Karachi, Pakistan and Bangkok, Thailand returning to San Angelo, TX upon retirement. She was active in her home church, First Baptist Church San Angelo. Shirley taught Sunday School for a number of years and was active in the Women's Missionary Union. She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ and actively prayed for the salvation of many. Because she had attended churches and missions here and abroad wherever she lived, Shirley continued to support missionaries her entire adult life. As an extrovert, Shirley never met a stranger. She made "daughters" wherever she went and listened well to her friends. Most of her life, she demonstrated a phenomenal memory for faces, names and events. She could recall individuals and personal information about them many years later. Almost always, her anecdotes were spot-on. Her family, mostly introverts, were always amazed. She was well-loved by her family and friends. Her gifting of service and reaching out to others was incredible as was her generosity. As her mother before her, Shirley tried to stay in contact with relatives near and far and help close the gap between them. Shirley's interests were many and varied. They ranged from horticulture and birds to nutrition and medicine. She loved creating collections for various family members. Shirley wanted them to know she cared deeply. After moving all over, she longed for a deeper sense of community and roots; therefore she wanted her family to have that sense of belonging. One of her traditions over a number of years was a family Thanksgiving get-together hosted at her parents' house. Shirley's daughters would like to thank the many individuals that made it possible for her to remain in her home until the final hospital trip. Several of them with her near the end had assisted her for years with the heart of a servant. Bobbie Sue Burns, Melinda Navarette, Lupe Sanchez, Sylvia Conner, and Mark and Denise Gonterman blessed her life over and over again! She could not have had better and more precious neighbors than Jerry and Alice Bruner. Many other individuals touched Shirley over the years. Thank you! Viewing is on Tuesday June 9 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Johnson's Funeral Home. The funeral service is on Wednesday June 10 at 10:00 in the First Baptist Church of San Angelo. Burial will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Dr. James Hassell of First Baptist Church will officiate. Memorials may be made in her honor to the First Baptist Church of San Angelo.