Shirley Bassetti Noe

Visitation will be held on Friday July 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM. A memorial service will follow at 6:30 PM with family friend Donald Christensen officiating. Visitation and service will be held at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home 5701 US Highway 277 S. Abilene, Texas 79606

The 2nd of three children, Shirley was born on March 22, 1939 in Abilene, Texas, to Robert Bassetti (a long-time educator) and Olga Harris Bassetti (a bookkeeper.) She grew up as an active tomboy in a loving family. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1957.

She met her husband, Michael Ted Noe, Sr., an airman from Dyess AFB while trying to study at the public library. The cheeky airman was flirting and she threatened to deck him if he didn’t leave her books alone. He was not scared away and they married on December 14th, 1957. They remained devoted to each other until his death. For the next 15 years they moved from one base to another. As with all military spouses, Shirley held the family together during deployments and long absences. Her son, Michael Ted Noe, Jr was born in Abilene in 1958 and her daughter Marie Olga Noe was born at Clark AFB in the Philippines. The family returned to Abilene in the early 70’s.

Shirley grew up in a family with a passion for service to the community. Her parents and brothers were involved in Boy Scouts and she was an active Girl Scout. As an adult, she and her husband became active in Troop 3 BSA. Their son earned his Eagle rank in the troop. Shirley served in many positions for over 50 years including Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman. She devoted herself to building character in every Scout she met and encouraged each of them to reach the rank of Eagle. She and her daughter have maintained their relationship with Troop 3 where she held the honorary position of Assistant Scoutmaster Emeritus and Troop fairy godmother. She was a member of the Order of the Arrow and was active in the adult training side of Scouting. Her scouting awards include Woodbadge Beads, Dr. of College of Commissioner Science, District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.

In the last 20 years, Shirley became a staunch supporter of the ECCA Volunteer Fire Department. While not physically able to ride the trucks or put out fires, she helped with fundraising as often as she could. She was very proud of the work the volunteers do and joked that she had helped raise enough money to fund at least a mirror or two on the fire trucks.

Shirley loved the outdoors, making stained glass mosaic stepping stones, and carving things with her chainsaw. She loved watching the deer and looked forward to seeing all the babies in spring. She also blessed neighbors and friends with giant cookie trays every Christmas.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Ted Noe, Sr., her father, Robert Bassetti and her mother Olga Bassetti. Also preceding her in death are her brothers William Hart Charles Bassetti and Colonel Robert Dalton Bassetti.

She is survived by her loving children, Michael Ted Noe, Jr. and Marie Olga Noe. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and the hundreds of scouts that she counted as her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ECCA Volunteer Fire Department (6870 FM 89, Tuscola, TX 79562) or to The Texas Trails Council of Scouting America (3811 N 1st St, Abilene, TX 79603)