Shirley Ann McGee

January 1, 1937 - June 29,2025

Shirley Ann (Clark) Brightwell McGee passed away on June 29, 2025, at home in Austin, Texas. She was born January 1, 1937, in San Antonio, Texas to parents Vera Frances Markgraf and Isaac Mason Clark.

Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, she graduated from Breckenridge High School, moving to the Austin, Texas area as a young wife and mother in 1959. After years as a stay home mother to a growing family of 4 boys, she later found her second calling as a waitress for almost 40 years at several Austin landmarks - the Night Hawk Steakhouse, Villa Capri and The Frisco Shop. Many of her customers would request Shirley as their waitress for many years and became longtime friends.

Shirley is survived by her husband C. L. “Buddy” McGee, her sons Jack Brightwell of Taylor, Texas; Bill Brightwell of Lake Stevens, Washington and Kevin Brightwell (Kristi) of College Station, Texas as well as step daughters JoAnn White (Trey) of Jarrell, Texas and Donna Lee McGee of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Mason Johnny Clark, son Mark Brightwell and grandson Brett Cardenas.

Shirley will be fondly remembered for her many passions that she enjoyed over the years. Her flower gardens were unforgettable, her cooking was amazing and she enjoyed even more sharing her skills with others, every child or grandchild it seems has a favorite Grandma Shirley dish they cherished, she loved traveling and playing slot machines with Buddy for many years, she enjoyed nurturing many cats over the years, and never lost her unique quick-witted personality that she would share with anyone…old friend or new acquaintance.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to St. David’s Hospital Hospice Care for the exceptional care of Shirley over the last 2 months. A special note of appreciation to her husband Buddy, who over the last several years never wavered once in his love and commitment to caring for his wife, our mother, for the last several years. We are forever thankful.

Graveside services to honor Shirley will be held 1 pm Monday, July 7, 2025, at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. Please visit

www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com to share deepest condolences and expressions of gratitude for Shirley and a life well lived.