Shirley Hardaway

Shirley Ann Hardaway, 85, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus on December 21 following a brief illness.
Shirley was born March 11, 1935 in Des Moines, Iowa, to the late Raymond C. Couch and Sarah Margaret (Hartshorn) Couch. She attended schools in Des Moines until moving to Pecos, Texas, with her parents at age 11. Shirley and her parents attended West Park Baptist Church in Pecos, and that is where she made a profession of faith as a teenager.

Shirley enjoyed school and was salutatorian of the Class of 1953 in Pecos. At age 15, Shirley met Bob Hardaway, the handsome older brother of a close friend, and the two were married on June 12, 1953, not long after her graduation.

Shirley and Bob spent most of their married lives in Monahans, Texas, with a number of years also spent in Hobbs, New Mexico. Shirley and Bob were blessed with four children and believed strongly in raising them in the Christian faith. They were active members of Bel-Aire Baptist Church during their time in Hobbs, and of Southside Baptist Church while living in Monahans. In Hobbs, Shirley was a worker in the youth department, and in Monahans, she was a longtime and well-loved Sunday School teacher.

Most of Shirley’s professional career was spent as a bank teller for First National Bank in Monahans, a job that she absolutely loved. She was very much a “people person” and was known for remembering customers by name and helping them in any way she could. In fact, customers would often wait in her teller line for service even when other tellers were available.

When not busy with her career and church work, Shirley enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking, baking, having company, and playing games, especially dominos. She and Bob also took many camping vacations with their children, often at Bonita Lake in Ruidoso, NM, making many wonderful memories. In more recent years, Shirley loved taking cruises with family members.

Family was always extremely important to Shirley, and from her own four children she became “Grandma” to 13 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. No time was more cherished by Shirley than time spent with her family. She had a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor, so smiles and laughs were always a big part of family holidays and other gatherings.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as two sons, Richard Hardaway and Ray Hardaway; two grandsons, Matt Hyman and Gerald Plumlee; and two great grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Meyering and Jude Michael Hyman.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter Genie Plumlee and husband John; daughter Susie Hyman and husband Mike; daughter-in-law Jill Hardaway; daughter-in-law Susan Hardaway; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other family members and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate Shirley’s life is scheduled for January 9, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church in Monahans. The service will be under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home, with Josh Rieff officiating. Memorials may be made to Southside Baptist.

Shirley spent the final two years of her life at Brookdale-Sherwood Assisted Living in Odessa. The family would like to express thanks to the staff members there, as well as to the staffs of Odessa Regional Medical Center and Madison Medical Resort in Odessa, both of which provided compassionate care for Shirley during her final days.