Shirley Mae Bolding

Shirley was born May 13, 1936, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Wendell and Lucy Johnston. She grew up in Mansfield, Texas and graduated from Mansfield High School.

On February 15, 1958, Shirley married Kent Bolding. For more than 64 years, Kent and Shirley built a life together, living along the way in Mansfield, Arlington, Irving, Topeka, Dallas and Pantego. Kent passed away on November 1, 2022, and Shirley will now be laid to rest beside him.

Shirley and Kent had three children: James Brent Bolding, Terri Akins and her husband, Michael and Craig Bolding and his wife, Crystal.

She was the best grandmother, known as Moni to her grandchildren James Bolding, Travis Akins, Ashley Dodd, Lann Bolding, Coby Bolding and Caden Bolding and her great grandchildren Reese Akins, Lucy Akins, Brit Akins, Hayden Bolding, Wiley Akins, Scout Akins, James L Bolding, Marysue Bolding and Banks Dodd.

No one ever went hungry or felt unloved around Moni. You were always taken care of. If you wanted something to eat or needed a drink, she would get up, get it for you and bring it right to you. She waited on her family hand and foot, not because anyone expected it, but because that was simply how she cared for people.

She loved coffee, Dr Pepper, pecan pie, peanut brittle and orange cats, which she always seemed to name Pumpkin. She loved collecting seashells at the beach. She also loved sports, especially the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys, and she was a fierce arguer with umpires and referees when they failed to see things as clearly as she did.

Shirley was a longtime member of the Randol Mill Rd./North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas. Her Christian faith was active, kind and often lived out behind the scenes. She served through Hearts and Hands, spent time ministering in nursing homes and found numerous other ways to care for people without needing recognition for it.

She loved her family deeply. She fed them, took care of them and made sure they knew they were loved. That care extended beyond her own family to people around her who needed a meal, some attention or simply someone willing to show up and help.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Kent Bolding; her parents, Wendell and Lucy Johnston; and her siblings, Martha Johnston, Fred Johnston, Ralph Johnston, Bill Johnston and James Johnston.