Shirley Ann Manley

November 25, 1938 ~ July 8, 2024 (age 85)

Shirley Ann Watson Manley went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 8, 2024. Her memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Stephenville, with Rev. Jane Woodward officiating. Shirley was born in Durant, Oklahoma on November 25, 1938, to Herbert S. Watson and Laura Ann Tugwell Watson. She graduated from Abernathy High School in 1957 and married Morris Leon Manley on August 4, 1957. They quickly began a family having three children by 1962. As a coach’s wife, she was a mother and a homemaker, until she began to work for an insurance agency in Denison, TX. In 1973, she and Leon moved to Stephenville, TX where she quickly began to work on her college degree receiving her Bachelor’s in education in 1976 from Tarleton State University.

She began and ended her career at Chamberlin Elementary School in Stephenville ISD as a beloved 1st grade teacher. She returned to school in 1984 receiving her Master’s degree from Tarleton State University. One of her greatest pleasures in life was teaching and reacquainting with her former students later in life. She was an educator at heart.

Shirley was an avid sports fan as a coach’s wife and could often be found following her children’s athletic endeavors. Later she enjoyed following Stephenville Athletics and could often be found enjoying sports on her TV at home. She and Leon moved to Breckenridge in 1996 to live on Lake Hubbard Creek. During their time in Breckenridge, they enjoyed hosting family reunions and volunteering in the community. In 2008, they returned to Stephenville.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Leon Manley, her brother Stuart Gerald Watson, and her granddaughter Michelle Alese Manley. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Adams, and sister in law, Barbara Watson. Additionally, she is survived by her daughter Judy Carter and her husband Rick Carter, son Mark Manley and his wife Anita Manley, son Scott Manley and his wife Lura Manley, and son Charles Peek and his wife Kathy Peek. She had nine grandchildren, Brandon Huckabee, Matthew Manley, Denise Sullivan, Christa Rains, Amy McMillan, Bryan Manley, Justin Peek, Philip Peek, and Kimberly Peek. She is also survived by 16 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. To know Shirley was to know she adored her family one and all.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to The Leon and Shirley Manley Endowment Scholarship Fund at Tarleton State University. This scholarship is awarded to one education student per semester at Tarleton State University in support of public education, which they dearly loved.

bit.ly/LeonManleyEndowment