Katherine Ann Shackelford

Kathy attended West Texas State University where she earned both her bachelor’s degree in medical technology and master’s in microbiology. She taught labs at WT then went on to teach high school biology and chemistry. She also met her eventual husband, George, at the Baptist Student Union while at WTSU. George and Kathy enjoyed 48 wonderful years of marriage.

Kathy was a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. She spent many years teaching second grade Sunday School at Moore’s Lane FBC and serving as the craft lady at Vacation Bible School in the summers. She participated in numerous women’s Bible study classes and sang in the choir.

A member of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution since 1985, civil service was not merely a hobby but a calling. Through NSDAR, Kathy ignited interest in history and facilitated scholarship opportunities in the local high schools via historical essay contests. She worked on various service projects in town including cleaning service members’ gravestones and assisted on countless genealogical research projects. She served as Chapter Historian, Chapter Regent, State Historian, State Corresponding Secretary, Division Vice Chair South Central, and Honorary Chapter Regent during her forty years in the DAR.

Kathy was an avid gardener and loved spending time outdoors. She always had a craft or sewing project in the works. George and Kathy enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and abroad, visiting historical sites, national parks, and enjoying local cuisines.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Leo and Ione Cantrell of Canadian, Texas, and her mother Betty South of Texarkana TX. She is survived by husband George Shackelford from Texarkana, Texas as well as daughters Whitney Long and her husband Matt of Texarkana, Arkansas, Lindsey Bordeau and her husband Joel of Washington, DC, and Brittany Jenkins and her husband Andy of Pierce City, Missouri. Also surviving are grandchildren Harper, Blake, Ryan, and Garrett.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 am on April 3, 2026, at East Memorial Chapel, 2807 Moores Lane, Texarkana, Texas.

Burial will take place at Memorial Gardens in Texarkana, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of Kathy’s favorite causes, for whom she advocated throughout her life: Kate Duncan Smith DAR High School in Grant, Alabama, First Choice Pregnancy Center in Texarkana, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online tributes can be posted at www.eastfuneralhome.com.