Shirlee Ann Presnall Rodgers

Shirlee Ann Presnall Rodgers On June 12, 2009, Shirlee Ann Presnall Rodgers departed from the loving hands of friends and family into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior after a brave and well-fought battle with cancer. Shirlee was born on December 23, 1938, in Angelina County, Texas, the youngest of three daughters of Edwin P. Presnall and Sarah Mae Hooper. Shirlee lived her early life in Lufkin, Texas, until a severe car accident almost claimed her life in her senior year at Lufkin High School. Her father vowed that if she survived, he would move her to a dryer climate because she had suffered from asthma which was aggravated by the East Texas humidity. This was the first evidence of Shirlee's strong will to live. Consequently, a few months before graduation, this branch of the Presnall family moved to Odessa, Texas where Shirlee graduated from Odessa High School in 1957. Shirlee made Odessa her home until March 2008 when she discovered she was ill, moving then to Midland to be near her family. Shirlee married David E. Riley in 1958, and they had two children: Joni Renee Riley and Josh Randle Riley. Sadly, their marriage ended in divorce and she found herself a single mother with little education or work experience to support herself and her children. Hard work did not deter her and became a defining trait of her strength, character and legacy. Shirlee later married James E. Rodgers and helped to raise his three children: Keith Rodgers, Steve Rodgers and Paul Rodgers. After the failure of this marriage, Shirlee was quite content to remain single and worked extremely hard to maintain her independence and the home she so dearly loved, which she did to this day. Through the years, Shirlee diligently worked in a variety of positions. One of her first positions was as a bill collector for Medical and Retail Credit Bureau. She later purchased the credit bureau and operated it for many years. Maintaining good credit was imperative to Shirlee, which was obvious by the way she miraculously managed her meager finances and her fierce determination to keep her good name. Shirlee finally realized a long time dream of opening a dress shop in Odessa, when she and her sister opened Namedroppers. Shirlee loved to help every person who came into the store and she made so many dear friends through the years. She was ever present in the management and operation of Namedroppers for over twenty years, discontinuing her service only when the severity of her illness and its treatment made it impossible to continue. Her tremendous will to live was evident to the end to all who were privileged to know and love her. Shirlee had many loves in life. Shirlee loved the Lord and made her church home with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters at First Presbyterian Church in Midland, Texas. Though she loved deeply, it was difficult for her to accept that anyone loved her as much as the Lord did. Her friends and family know without a doubt she believes it now! Shirlee loved her family, from immediate to extended and welcomed each opportunity to get together with them. She had immense pride in every member of her family from the closest member to the most distant. Shirlee loved her friends and through the years she developed deep and lasting relationships with so many dear friends, many of which have devoted themselves to her since her illness. Shirlee's friends came from all walks of life and she was always willing to lend them a helping hand. She passionately loved and cared for all animals, from those she selected to those who selected her, showing up at her door or crossing her path. She provided a loving home for so many over her lifetime. Her home was another of her passions, spending most of her free time single-handedly tending to its repair and upkeep. There was no job she would not tackle, from roofing to underground water pumps and everything in between. She labored ceaselessly but it was truly a labor of love. Shirlee not only loved all things artistic, she had tremendous skill as well and was an avid painter, creator and designer. Shirlee loved crossword puzzles, especially those edited by Will Shortz, working them with an ease and expertise which was maddening to those who could not do so. She loved all types of music and it was her wish that her grandchildren learn to play the piano. They are taking piano lessons over the summer in honor of her request and will no doubt thank her for her insistence they do so (someday!). She loved to eat and to cook for her family and friends, frequently entertaining and always the consummate hostess. Fox News and politics was one of her most passionate pastimes and frequent topics of conversation. She welcomed any opportunity to engage anyone on the subject. Shirlee took immense pride in her country, its government and was very proud to be an American. Shirlee loved to travel and was able to take a dream trip with her friends and family to her nation's capitol during the course of her illness. She told many it was a "dream come true." Shirlee was preceded in death by her parents Edwin P. Presnall and Sarah Mae Hooper Presnall, her sister Mary Louise Presnall Keele, and by many members of the Presnall family, all of whom she dearly loved and felt a tremendous bond with. Her final resting place will be along side several of these dear family members, which would give her such tremendous comfort and joy. Shirlee leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughter Renee Riley Douglas, son-in-law, Dale Douglas, granddaughters, Merritt Elizabeth Douglas and Catherine Sayer Douglas, all of Midland, Texas, her son Josh Randle Riley of San Angelo, Texas, her sister, Sara Ferguson, brother-in-law, Jay Ferguson of Odessa, Texas and so many extended family and dear friends who were like family.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday. June 16, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church in Midland with Dr. Steve Schorr, officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Monday evening at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at Roselawn Cemetery in Denton. A viewing will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Wednesday, also at Roselawn Cemetery in Denton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the S.P.C.A., The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcomb Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030-4095, or a charity of one's choice.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,