Shirley Locke Bland, 87, of Little River – Academy, Texas passed from this life into heaven on June 21, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family. She was born to Andrew and Christina Locke in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada on July 23, 1936. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Celebration of life will be, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Academy. Burial will follow at Wilson Valley Cemetery.
Shirley graduated early from high school with honors in 1953. She worked many jobs and retired from the Bell County Criminal Division. She joined First Baptist Church of Academy in 1977. She had a heart for little children and taught them about Jesus in Sunday School. She loved working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers. Shirley loved serving people and volunteered at Churches Touching Life for Christ. She met her husband, Weldon Lee Bland, while he was stationed in Newfoundland, Canada. They married and had three children: Sandra, Vicky and Terry.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Sandra King, daughter Vicky Dorsey and her husband, John, son Terry Bland and wife, Dorothy, 7 grandchildren: Justin Dorsey and wife Jenny, Shana Villarreal and husband, Joe, Christina Turner, Kelly Bland and fiancé, Kelly Beck, Michelle King and fiancé, Michael Kildow, Brandi Jarosek and husband J. J., Samantha Lewis and husband, Justin, 21 great grandchildren: Dylan and wife, Kyrie, Brianna and fiancé, Cade Tubbs, Payton, Alyssa, Brenna, Colt, Jackson, Aiden, Austin, Valkyrie, Artemis, Emrick, Caspian, Natalie, Dallas, Gracie, Sydnee, Zakary, Kinley, Kylie, Kendall, and 3 great-great grandchildren: Hadley, Hudson and Kaci and sisters: Gloria, Betty, Sandra, Joann, and brothers: Gerald, George and Tony Locke.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Weldon (Rusty) Bland, parents: Andrew and Christina Locke, Brothers: Bill, Clarence, Weldon, Don, Robert, Max, and Baby Boy Locke, Sisters: Faye and Cynthia and son in law, Ricky King.
Pallbearers: Justin Dorsey, Zakary Zalkovsky, Aiden Martin, Austin Martin, Colt Villarreal, Joe Villarreal, Jackson Dorsey
Honorary Pallbearer: Dylan Turner
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.
