Shirley Dawson

Visitation: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
5-7 p.m.
OakCrest Funeral Home
4520 Bosque Blvd
Waco, TX 76710

Funeral Service:
OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel
4520 Bosque Boulevard
Waco, TX 76710
Thursday, February 28, 2013
1 p.m.
Rev. Terry Graham, First Baptist Church of Woodway

Burial:
Waco Memorial Park
6623 Interstate 35 South
Robinson, TX 76706

Shirley Jean Battle Dawson passed away on Sunday, February 24, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at OakCrest Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Terry Graham. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation with the family is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at the funeral home.

Shirley was born on August 20, 1936 in Blevins, Texas to Ethel Keeton Battle and John Wesley Battle. While very young her family moved to the area known now as Woodway, Texas. She attended church at Harris Creek where she accepted Christ and was baptized in the South Bosque River. Later she became a charter member of a newly formed church that began in the garage of a home next door. This church grew to be First Baptist Church of Woodway.

She attended school at South Bosque and Hewitt as they consolidated to become Midway, and graduated from Midway High School. After graduating from 4-C Business College in Waco, she worked in the Quality Control office at General Tire where she met the love of her life, John Dawson. They had 51 wonderful years together and enjoyed raising their four children and being “Nanny and Poppy” to each of the precious grandchildren that became a part of their lives.

At First Baptist Church of Woodway, she worked in Sunday School and Bible School, then later worked in the church baby nursery for over 38 years. “Miss Shirley” cherished caring for these babies and watching them grow. As they got older she enjoyed reading about their scholastic and sports achievements in local newspapers, and as they married and had children she kept their babies, too.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, John Dawson, parents, J.W. and Ethel Battle, and her sister and brother-in-law, Bobbie and Jim Nolen.

She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Mainord and husband, Steve of Duncanville; son, Wesley Dawson and wife Christy of Woodway; daughter Linda Reneau and husband, Terry of Hewitt; and daughter Susan Fuller and husband, Clint of Frisco; fifteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. “Nanny’s” beloved grandchildren include Courtney and John Wesley Dawson, Alyssa Cady, Eric Nye, Kim Scoggins, Michael Rowell, Rachel and Caitlin Reneau, Ava and Olivia Fuller, Amanda Wade, Ellen Bentley, Sarah Mainord, John Mainord, and Mary Mainord. Great grandchildren include Christian Cady, Kylie and Lynley Bentley, Hayden Mainord, and Jace and Myah Mainord.

Other special people in her life were long-time friend and coworker Janice Smith, her many coworkers and friends from First Baptist Church of Woodway, her nephews Mike, Mark, and Matt Nolen, and a host of cousins and other family members who she dearly loved.

Pallbearers include Bob Johnson, Danny Webb, Eric Nye, Steve Mainord, Terry Reneau, Clint Fuller, Chris Cady, and Michael Rowell.

Memorials may be made in memory of “Miss Shirley” to the First Baptist Church of Woodway, designated to the fund for the new Children’s Building, or to the American Cancer Society.