Shirley Jean Patterson McNiel, 90, a lifelong resident of Lampasas, died peacefully on May 14, 2026.
She was born at Rollins Brook Hospital in Lampasas to John Calvin and Geneva Esdale Hetherly Patterson on March 1, 1936. She was their only child.
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.
Shirley’s uncle Buck 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.
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.
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.
Music was a big part of Shirley’s life. She played the clarinet, the tenor saxophone and the violin. She graduated from Lampasas Class of 1954 and looked forward to what became annual class reunions held each year during the Spring Ho festival.
She attended University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, then transferred to Howard Payne University where she received a full scholarship in music.
Shirley married Dorman McNiel on July 22, 1955, at First Baptist Church in Lampasas. Shirley traveled to Guam, San Francisco and Coronado, California with him while he was enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Once back home to Lampasas, Shirley raised their daughters Peggy and Sandy.
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 2009. Shirley greeted everyone with a sweet smile and a kind and patient ear.
A devoted mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Shirley’s life centered around her family and friends. From the time her girls moved to the Austin area, she drove there often to see them and never wanted to miss an event.
She enjoyed sewing and made many clothes and intricate costumes for her family. She loved Christmas. 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.
Shirley let her light shine bright for all to see, sharing her love for Jesus. In her final days, she joyfully sang the hymn with her family, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m going to let it shine.”
Shirley is survived by her daughter Sandy and John Kerr of Austin, grandson Jerritt Ray and greatgrandson Jackson Ray of Austin, granddaughter Calli Bell and greatgrandsons William and Parker Bell of Austin; grandson Weston and Laura Ray of Friendswood, and great-grandsons Harvey and Shepherd Ray of Friendswood. She is also survived by her daughter Peggy and David Withers of Brownwood, granddaughter Britne and Ralph Cordero, greatgrandsons Hagen Tate and Parker Kilpper, and greatgranddaughter Charlee Kilpper of Georgetown; and also granddaughter Meredith McNiel-Kaplan and Ameteo Kaplan of Austin.
Shirley was preceded in death by an 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 May 19 at 1:30 p.m., with visitation an hour prior. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements.
