Shirley Joe Ann Hughes

Shirley Joe Ann Hughes was born on Wednesday, December 2, 1936 in Prague, Oklahoma and went to her Heavenly home on Sunday, May 5, 2024 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, at the age of 87. Shirley was the daughter of Joseph Cisero “Shorty” and Gladys Gwendolyn (Bottoms) Hughes. She grew up on an oil lease in the Keokuk Falls area near Prague. She attended Strother Schools and later Prague Schools, where she graduated from Prague High School as valedictorian of her beloved class of 1954. After high school, Shirley attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She continued her education, earning a master’s degree in business education from the University of Oklahoma in May, 1959.

Following graduation, Shirley went to work at Central High School in Tulsa, where she taught business education classes for a period of time before moving into the oil and gas industry. She went to work at Gulf Oil in Tulsa which later took her to Texas by way of a job transfer. She stayed on with Gulf Oil through their transition to Chevron, where she worked as an office administrator for many years. Following her time at Chevron, she worked for the Baptist Annuity Board and then Texas Instruments, where she worked until her retirement.

Shirley lived for many years in Richardson, Texas and was a very active and dedicated member of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson. She loved her singles class and the “Monday Funday” activities associated with her church. Although Shirley was long removed from her home in Prague, she was loyal to her class of 1954, was vigilant to stay in touch with them as much as possible and cared very much for those special relationships. She moved back to Oklahoma three years ago to be closer to her family.

Shirley was known for her loving and generous spirit and her bright jovial laugh. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and lived her life in His example. She dedicated her life to sharing His love with her family, her friends and everyone in between. She traveled the world as a missionary, with stops in Brazil and Australia, as well as areas throughout the United States. Shirley was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend and will be missed by many.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents. Those left to cherish her memory are her brother, James Hughes and his wife, Sharon; her niece, Amy Fisher and her husband, Billy and their children and grandchildren, Ashton and Joseph Block, Alicia and Cody Stine and Paislea Block, Waylon Block, Hesston Stine and Holland Stine; her niece, Kimberly Beck and her husband, Steven and their children, Lindsay Beck and her fiancé, Logan Hensley, Lauren and her husband Lt. Brian Nichols and Matthew Beck and his fiancée, Maribel Aumoeualogo, along with a host of family and friends.