Shirley Frances Carpenter Howard's Obituary
Shirley Frances Carpenter Howard, born February 25, 1931, stepped into glory January 26, 2026, at the age of 94; one month shy of her 95th birthday. Her parents were Frances Evans from Jewett, Texas and Hollis Carpenter from Waco, Texas.
Shirley was born in Waco. Her family moved to Dallas where Shirley grew up on McCommas Boulevard (one of the M streets). Shirley met Ted Howard while they were both taking a Creative Writing course at SMU. Soon they were married. They raised their family in Oak Cliff, Lockwood, and Lake Highlands. For many years they attended Lakeside Baptist Church and later Prestonwood Baptist Church.
Shirley was preceded in death by her mother Frances Myrtle Evans Carpenter Bryant, father John Hollis Carpenter, husband Ted Allen Howard, son Ted Allen Howard, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Linda Carol Wise Howard.
She is survived by her children, Beverly Gail Beyer Walker and her husband Bill Walker, and Mitzi Lou Beyer Watts and her husband Randy Watts; her grandchildren Teresa Ann Walker Talley and her husband Benjie Talley, Michael David Walker and Bethany Buscher, Amanda Michelle Walker Cox and her husband Brandon Cox, Christen Nicole Walker DeBerry and her husband Eric DeBerry, Laurel Elaine Watts and her husband Chris Bain, Elizabeth Anne Watts Rodriguez and her husband Felix Rodriguez, Rebecca Leigh Watts Ramirez and her husband Esteban Ramirez, Christopher Randal Watts and his wife Holley Watts, Rosemary Hope Watts Webb and her husband Matt Webb, Jeffrey David Watts and his wife Hannah Watts, Mary Elizabeth Howard, Samuel Evans Howard and Caleb Matthew Howard; her great grandchildren Benjamin Tyler Talley, Rachel Leigh Talley, Alyssa Anne Talley, Andrew Earl Cox, Emma Frances Cox, John Charles Cox, William Henry Cox, Reagan Hope DeBerry, Everett Lee DeBerry, Claire Elizabeth Bain, William Christopher Bain, Logan Esteban Ramirez, Oakley Anabel Watts, Kyndall Sage Watts, Avery Caroline Watts, Hawken Randal Watts, Annie Kate Webb, Norah Grace Webb, Eden Hope Webb, Micah Diane Watts and Riley Lou Watts.
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