Shirley Jean Burch

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. www.stjude.org

Shirley was born June 30, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan one of the four children of Margaret and Ernest Lacey. After graduation from St. Cecilia's High School in Detroit, she worked for General Motors in the public relations department. She married the love of her life, David Burch, on May 30, 1950 at Gesu Catholic Church on the campus of the University of Detroit. They settled in Detroit near family and friends, and started their family with twin boys, Michael and Patrick. Their 3rd son, Daniel, followed 3 years later and daughter, Colleen, joined the family 4 years after. David and Shirley moved their family to Dallas, Texas in 1960 where their 5th child, Kelly, was born a year later. Shirley was a wonderful wife and homemaker. She and David celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this year.
In 1974, Shirley and David treated their family to a weekend lake house that they built in Enchanted Oaks on Cedar Creek Lake. Every weekend and holiday was spent at their beloved lake house until deciding to move there permanently the summer of 1976. She loved gardening, boating and swimming. They became active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Shirley served many hours, day and night, as a crew member for safety patrols, on search and rescue missions, and as radio watch coordinating water operations over the marine radio. She enjoyed being an instructor teaching water safety to elementary school children and boaters. She truly enjoyed being a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and working with the many dedicated volunteers and dear friends throughout her 30 years of service.
Shirley had a giving and caring heart. She was very active in her community, church, and the children's schools. She spent a lifetime teaching by example the importance of giving of your time and talent to help others. She was a past president of the Ladies Club of Enchanted Oaks and served on many of the various committees. She was among the founding families of St. Jude Catholic Church and was a member of the Ladies Guild. Among her many volunteer jobs she was an assistant troop leader for Campfire Girls, a reading mentor for elementary school children, she gave her time and skills to the local Animal Shelter and the Spay Neuter Clinic. She loved volunteering in the elementary school nurse's office and local hospitals. When her youngest child was in high school Shirley went to college and earned her nursing degree. She worked as an LVN for many years.
Shirley loved to travel with David, to meet people from all over the world, to learn their customs, explore their cities and try new food. From camping trips across America with the five kids to the fabulous cruises for just the two of them, she was always ready for an adventure.
Shirley loved her home, her family, her children, their spouses, her grandkids, and her great-grandkids even the ones she never had the opportunity to meet. She enjoyed hearing stories of you and she held you all dearly in her heart.
The family gratefully thanks the caring staff at Brookdale Richland Hills Assisted Living for helping David with Shirley's care these last few years. We thank her nurse, Judy, with Heart to Heart Hospice for the loving and tender care she provided. We thank Fr. Nguyen and the members of St. John's Catholic Church North Richland Hills for providing spiritual support and ministry to David and Shirley while living at Brookdale. Lastly, we want to thank Fr. Dan Daugherty and the supportive church family at St. Jude Catholic Church for continuously keeping David and Shirley in your thoughts prayers throughout these years.
Shirley is survived by her beloved husband, David; sons, Michael (Frances), Patrick (Joan), and Daniel (Josie); daughters, Colleen Reynolds, and Kelly Curtis (Mike); her brothers, Gerry Lacey and Jim Lacey (Barbara); her sister, Sharyn Sullivan; her 16 grandchildren, Stefani Nielsen (Darin), Michael Burch, Jaimi Cook, Sydni Burch, Lacey Brady (Buck), Matthew Burch (Lizzy), Candice Gainer (Shane), Eric Burch (Amy), Damon Burch (Marielle), Zachary Burch, Warren Burch, Cynthia Burch, Jennifer Vaughn (Aaron), Kimberly Morgan (Jason), Emily Curtis, Kathryn Curtis; and her 20 great grandchildren, Christian, Devyn, & Ashley Nielsen, Brennen & Courtney Cook, Dimitri & Daestink Burch, Mason, Kennedy & Presley Brady, Makenzie & Mallory Gainer, Blake Wright, Madison & Brady Burch, Charlotte & Donovan Burch, Taylor Burch, Kia Wallace, and Jessalyn Vaughn; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Shirley is united in heaven with her sweet little great grandchild Declan Burch.

Funeral Arranged By: Lucas Funeral Home in Keller (817)753-6800