Shirley Sue Shaddix

Shirley Sue Shaddix, age 74, traveled from Oklahoma City to heaven on August 21, 2017. Mrs. Shaddix was born in Enid OK, daughter of Verna and Clarence Shields. She received her primary and secondary education in Braman ISD, Sumner ISD, Irving ISD, and Lawton ISD, graduating from Lawton High School in 1961. Shirley studied at Cameron State College (Cameron University), and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma Women's College (Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts) in 1965. She continued with graduate studies at The University of Oklahoma. Shirley was baptized in Sumner First Baptist Church as a young woman. She later joined the Lawton First Baptist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and member at First Baptist East, Lawton. Shirley married Army 1st Lieutenant Larry Shaddix in 1970 at the First Baptist Church in Lawton, OK. She and Larry resided in Jefferson City, TN while Larry was Assistant Professor of Military Science at Carson-Newman College. Shirley moved back to Lawton while Larry was serving with the US Army in the Republic of Korea. Shirley and her family resided in Karlsruhe Germany from 1980 - 1983, then resided in Lawton and Fort Sill until they moved to Oklahoma City in 2005. Shirley's pride and joy are her two daughters and is proud that both received graduate college degrees. Shirley's three grandchildren, Isabelle, Gregory, and Jacob live in Oklahoma City and are her greatest treasurers. Of course, the grandkids received her devoted attention, love, and special teaching. She loved attending their sports events and artistic endeavors with church activities, piano, and singing, watching them mature and grow up before her eyes. Shirley was an avid educator, inspired by her father and mother, both Oklahoma educators. Her first teaching position was 1st grade at Lincoln Elementary in Lawton OK in 1965. She also taught in the Department of Defense Schools System in Karlsruhe Germany in the early 80's. After moving back to Lawton, Shirley taught kindergarten at Carriage Hills Elementary School. The highlight of her teaching career was being selected as the Oklahoma PTA Teacher of the Year in 1993. She loved little kids., Shirley decided she had taught long enough when one of her prior kindergarten students walked in and registered her child in her class. She retired from the Lawton Public Schools in 2003. Shirley was active in numerous organizations including the American Association of University Women where she was recognized in the 1975 Outstanding Young Women of America publication. She was also active in the American Contract Bridge League in Lawton and Oklahoma City serving as a Bridge Center of OKC co-owner, player, ACBL district officer, and an ACBL director. She loved playing in bridge tournaments around the country. She stayed busy with the Oklahoma City Questers Cimarron Chapter, a local book club, and participation in a local Red Hats group. Other activities included serving as an Oklahoma Education Association Representative, and she was active in the National Education Association, and Parent Teacher Association as an educator and a parent. Shirley was a world traveler visiting all 50 US States, several US Territories, 45 National Parks, including numerous Canadian National Parks, and 37 countries from New Zealand to the Alaskan Arctic Circle. Shirley was preceded in death by her father Clarence, and mother Verna. Survivors include Larry, her husband, two daughters, Alisa White and Krissa Denning; a sister, Donna Murphy of Lawton OK, a brother, James Shields of Rawlins, WY; three grandkids, three nieces and four nephews. Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/ and the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation http://okbtf.org/ in OKC would be appreciated. Memorial services will be held on August 24, 2017, at 2 pm, Smith and Kernke N. May Chapel.