Shirley Jean McNiel

Shirley Jean Patterson McNiel, 90, a lifelong resident of Lampasas, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026. She was born at Rollins Brook Hospital in Lampasas, Texas to John Calvin and Geneva Esdale Hetherly Patterson on March 1, 1936. Her parents had awaited her birth for 16 years; she was their only child. Shirley often said she felt blessed with the attention she received growing up in downtown Lampasas among her Patterson and Hetherly families. She grew up in her Hetherly grandparents Bluebonnet Hotel, which long stood at the southeast corner of Live Oak and Second Streets, a block off the courthouse square, along with her uncle Walter, his wife Mildred, her cousin Van; her uncle Fat, his wife Valla, and their children, cousins C.W, Judy, and Clyde Gale Hetherly. Shirley’s uncle Buck, wife Faye and their children, cousins (Nootie) and Jimmy lived nearby and owned the Lampasas Steam Laundry southeast of the square. Shirley’s uncle Clyde was a manager at Stokes Brothers Department Store on the west side of the square. Her uncle Warren Patterson had a saddle shop on the north side and her uncle Dan Patterson ran the Silver Grill Café next to the saddle shop. Every morning Shirley woke to the sound of shuffling dominoes coming from the lobby of the Hotel, where her grandfather had his domino parlor. Her mother, grandmother and aunt Valla had a sewing and alterations business in the lobby of the hotel, where ladies would often drop in for coffee and to visit. This followed Shirley into adulthood. It was common knowledge that visitors were always welcome to drop in at Shirley’s house on First Street for coffee and a visit.

In her youth, many days were spent playing with cousins and neighbors. They would go to the movies downtown at the old Leroy and Rio theaters, when admission was just 12 cents. Her evenings were spent on their porch, enjoying ice cream made at the soda fountain of the pharmacy and delivered to them at the hotel. Shirley went to sleep listening to the sounds of the route call at the bus station and the jukebox playing at her uncle Walter’s café.

Music was a big part of Shirley’s life, she played the clarinet, the tenor saxophone, and the violin. She graduated from the tight knit Lampasas Class of 1954 and looked forward to staying close to her classmates at what became annual class reunions held each year during the Spring Ho festival. She attended University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, then transferred to Howard Payne University in Brownwood where she received a full scholarship in music.

Shirley married Dorman McNiel on July 22, 1955, at the First Baptist Church in Lampasas, Texas. Shirley traveled to Guam, San Francisco, and Coronado, California with him while he was enlisted in the United States Navy. Once back home to Lampasas, Shirley raised their daughters Peggy and Sandy in Lampasas, where many family and friends lived and also new friendships were built.

Shirley worked as an assistant in John and Minnie Tucker’s optometry office, later taught kindergarten at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church until landing at the Lampasas Dispatch Record where she spent 34 years, until her retirement in August of 2009. While at the Dispatch she helped many brides-to-be by ordering their wedding invitations, thank you notes, wording their engagement and wedding announcements and later their baby announcements. She engraved names on Bibles, took classified ads and handled subscriptions as well as many other tasks.

Having grown up in Lampasas, Shirley was quite the local historian. Many trying to locate an old friend, long-lost relative or old landmarks often stopped at the Dispatch to ask Shirley for help. Shirley greeted them all with a sweet smile, a warm welcome, a kind and patient ear and they would leave happy, feeling better about their day. It’s been said “You may forget what someone said, but you will never forget how they made you feel.” Shirley epitomized this example with her heartfelt greetings of “Hello Hon! It’s so good to see you! How are you?” and these salutations will never be forgotten by those who had the privilege of meeting her.

As a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Shirley’s life was centered around her family and dear friends. From the time her girls moved to the Austin area, she drove there to see them often. She spent every moment she could with them and their families and never wanted to miss a single event. She enjoyed sewing and made many lovely clothes and intricate costumes for her family. She loved Christmas. She loved to decorate and celebrate the birth of Christ. For many years she had a side job as a sales representative for House of Lloyd’s Christmas Around the World. She organized many parties in Lampasas and chances are a lot of these cherished decorations are still in use, with memories tied to the fun parties that Shirley hosted.

Her smile would light up any room. Music and love lived in her heart. She truly lived by the scripture found in Matthew 5:14-16 where Jesus tells his followers “You are the light of the world” and instructs his followers to let their light shine before others. She lived a long and meaningful life. Shirley let her light shine bright her whole life for all the world to see, sharing her love for Jesus. In her final days, she joyfully sang the precious hymn with her family “This Little Light of Mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Heaven has welcomed this precious soul that we will never forget. Her love lives on.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Sandy and John Kerr of Austin, grandson Jerritt Ray and great-grandson Jackson Ray of Austin, granddaughter Calli Bell and great-grandsons William and Parker Bell of Austin, grandson Weston and Laura Ray of Friendswood, Texas and great-grandsons Harvey and Shepherd Ray of Friendswood, Texas. She is also survived by her daughter Peggy and David Withers of Brownwood, granddaughter Britne and Ralph Cordero, great-grandsons Hagen Tate and Parker Kilpper and great-granddaughter Charlee Kilpper of Georgetown and also granddaughter Meredith McNiel-Kaplan and Ameteo Kaplan of Austin, Texas.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her infant daughter, Debbie Sue McNiel and her grandson William Shannon Davis, all of Lampasas.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Lampasas on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 1:30 p.m., with visitation an hour prior. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lampasas.

Pallbearers: Jerritt Ray, Weston Ray, Jackson Ray, Hagan Tate, Parker Kilpper, Jem Moore and Jem Ed Moore