Shirley Jean Henderson Moore was born in Vivian, Louisiana on December 13, 1938, daughter of James Frank (J.F.) Henderson and Audrey Davis Henderson. She is survived by two daughters, Stacey Lynne McGown (Jerry), and Shelly Elisabeth Huff (Timothy); and son, Jason Scott Moore (Laura). She is also survived by six grandchildren, Katelynn Elisabeth Huff Garrison (Austin), Christian O’Ryan Huff (McKenzie Miller), Brian McGown (Grace Hahn), Megan McGown (Josh Ward), Asher and Evelynn; and three great-grandchildren, Kamry Garrison, Brett Garrison, and Tate Garrison. An avid lifetime cat-lover, she is survived by her adopted cat, Taco, and her cat, Honey.
Shirley Moore grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas, attending lower grades in the Castleberry school district and graduating from Ft. Worth’s Northside High School in 1957. She attended Baylor University, graduating with a BA in journalism and education in 1961.
After graduating from Baylor University in Waco, she moved to Dallas where she worked one year at KRLD radio and then began a 38-year career as an educator, beginning with Thomas Jefferson High School, Bryan Adams High School and Gaston Junior High. She met and married Jerold Moore in 1965 and they lived in Dallas until 1975 when they moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas. He preceded her in death in 2021.
She completed a course of study in guidance/counseling at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce), receiving a master’s degree in 1976. Following that she began working as a special education counselor in Sulphur Springs ISD, later serving as Director of Special Education before retiring from that school district in 2004.
Shortly after that retirement she accepted a position as Special Education Director in Rains ISD, Emory, Texas, where she guided the development of a special education department for Rains which had just left a special education co-op. Telling her new superintendent that she would stay for two years, she retired again in 2008 after four years. When asked about her career, she would often reply that the nine years in the classroom in Dallas were the best years because she loved students and teaching.
Following retirement, Shirley re-acquainted herself with her love of writing and joined a group of writers at Texas A&M University at Commerce, Silver Leos Writers Guild. She participated in the publication of two anthologies by the Guild, having several selections included in each book.
When her daughters were young, she spent several years as a Girl Scout leader and served on the Red River Girl Scout Council Board. She spent many hours with her Scouts in camping and traveling experiences, even involving her entire family in a trip to GS National Center West in Wyoming. She never quite forgave the GS Organization for selling National Center West or for minimizing the importance of camping and outdoor experiences; but she remained a supporter of GS and the values they embraced. (Loved those cookies, also.)
She was proud to receive a lifetime membership in PTA and was dismayed when the local school districts chose to join PTO instead. She found the training, support, and opportunities offered by the PTA organization to be well worth the small part of the membership fee that left local hands.
She never missed the opportunity to vote in any election and avidly read The Dallas Morning News and the local newspaper to keep up with local, national, and international news.
Shirley was a long-time member of PEO Chapter AB in Sulphur Springs, and loved her time spent with her chapter sisters.
Shirley passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 12, 2026.
