Shirley Ann Callahan Carpenter

Shirley Ann Callahan Carpenter, 79, of Orange, Texas, passed away on Saturday, August 20, 2022, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2022, Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, with a rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Pastor Harland Strother. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Shirley was born in Orange, Texas, on July 20, 1943, to Eugenie and Harold Callahan. She attended school at West Orange and Chenier Business School. She began her career at Orange Bank.

She married John Carpenter on August 12, 1967, with whom she enjoyed 52 years of marriage. Shirley and John were partners in everything they did from raising their family with the Christian faith, yard work, to building their home, Christmas tree farming and raising their family. They were members of St. Mary Catholic church for many years and later became members of Cowboy Church of Orange County.

Shirley became a stay-at-home mom and homemaker until returning to work in 1987 at St. Mary School as their secretary and bookkeeper. She worked at the school until retiring in 2004.

Shirley had many talents she shared with family and friends. She was an expert seamstress. She also enjoyed machine embroidery, crochet and creating personalized children’s books. She planned countless themed birthday parties and many vacations. She loved spending time with her family enjoying all kinds of activities such as dancing, playing games (beating us all at Scrabble), arts and crafts, traveling, family cookouts and camping. She and her children also took many classes together such as dance, painting, and cake decorating.

Shirley loved to give words of affirmation and support. She aways offered a compliment upon greeting you and encouragement in challenging times.

Some of her favorite things were spending time with her grandkids, enjoying laughter with friends and family, dancing and music, hummingbirds and flowers, sunsets and watching the rain while rocking on the porch, and enjoying wine and chocolate.

Shirley was our rock, best friend, confidante, counselor, spiritual guide, heart and soul, angel on Earth and now our angel in Heaven.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband John, parents Eugenie and Harold Callahan, brother Calvin, sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Jessie Moon; and in-laws Eula and Paul Carpenter.

She is survived by her four children and their families, Suzie Erickson and husband Scott and their daughter Savannah, Jenny Frisbee and husband Jim, and their children, Brandon and Emma, Kevin Carpenter and his children, Ben, Will, and Maddie, Jason Carpenter and wife Mistie, and their children, Maysie, Jaxen, Weston, Hunter and wife Emily, Trent and wife Brooke, and their children, Xander and Adalynn.

Pallbearers are Ben Carpenter, Trent Carpenter, Hunter Langley, Will Carpenter, Brandon Frisbee, and Adam Ray. Honorary pallbearers are Maddie Carpenter, Maysie Carpenter, Emma Frisbee, Jaxen Carpenter, Weston Carpenter and Savannah Erickson.

We want to recognize our mothers dedication and devotion to our Father and the unconditional love and care that was shown during his later years.