Shirley Zahn

Shirley Zahn passed away on May 19, 2020 at the age of 81 at her home in Red Oak,  Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorotha and Alvis Cloninger, brother, Wendell Bruner, and her loving husband, Richard Zahn.

Shirley is survived by her two devoted sons James Norris, wife Sherrie, of Waxahachie, Rick Norris, wife  Vonnie, of Rockwall, one sister Lora Whitely, husband Cecil, of Richmond , MS, one brother, Bill Bruner, wife Ann, of Kaufman, and one sister-in-law, Bonnie Bruner, of Mesquite. Five grandchildren, Kari Ann Bivins, Crystol Laird, Joel Norris, Janea Roberts and Sydney Norris.  Four great grandchildren, Jaci Young, Madison Gonzales, husband Casey, Morgan Callender, Noah Chester and two great-great grandchildren, Aubree and Asher Gonzales, three nephews and one niece, and a host of caring friends. She will be greatly missed by all and loved forever.

Shirley was born December 5th, 1938 in Dallas, Texas, near Love Field.  She learned to love country life when her family moved to Scurry, Texas where she attended Scurry Rosser elementary and junior high.  She loved her life there along with her brothers and sister. Shirley was very nurturing and since she was 9 years older than her sister, she always made sure her little sister had on her coat and got on the bus.   Her days were spent mostly outdoors, playing with her brothers, sister and cousins, and always helping her mother. By high school, her family had moved to Peeltown, another small community a few miles away.  Shirley grew quickly into a tall, natural beauty, with dark hair and amber eyes. But she wasn’t interested in boys. That all changed when her older brother Wendell brought home a friend, Sonny Norris.  She and Sonny were married in 1953, he joined the Army, and she became a mother of two boys before she was 18.  Her boys were her life and she built her life around them.

The Army took her and her boys on an adventure that began and ended in Killeen, Texas. But during the 17 years in between, they lived in Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Hawaii.  They have many happy memories and made life-long friends along the way.  They moved from Killeen to Terrell in 1972 where she lived until her boys finished high school, then moved to Dallas.

Shirley met Richard Zahn 22 years ago and they were married for over 20 years. They lived a full life that was filled with family and friends.  They enjoyed traveling in their RV and dancing.  They were forever in love and devoted to each other.

Shirley was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and grandmother, a loving and caring daughter, sister, and a true friend.  She was fun loving, hard-working, generous, forgiving, and a happy person.  She loved to go dancing with her husband Richard, have friends over to play cards or make a quick trip to play the slots, and very lucky at both.  She loved to cook, bake, clean her house, iron, decorate, shop, and get dressed up.  She loved nice clothes and jewelry.  She was a beautiful woman and influenced others with her style. Shirley was one of a kind and her memory will live forever and always in our hearts.

Her family is comforted in knowing that Shirley had great faith in God and believe that she is with him now, along with Richard, the love of her life.  Richard has been waiting on her for 5 long months. If you know Shirley, she is never late.  So, she must be right on time.

Donations may be made in her name to: www.SusanGKomen.org  or www.COPDFoundation.org