Shirley Jean Beck

Shirley Jean Beck passed away on May 22, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas at the age of 81. Born in Price, Utah on September 3, 1943, Shirley was the daughter of Bayard Leroy and Elizabeth May Mendenhall.

Shirley graduated from Rock Springs High School in Rock Springs, Wyoming class of 1961. She also graduated from Shasta Beauty College in Redding, California in 1972. Shirley's warmth and friendly nature enabled her to succeed at a number of customer service focused positions from Avon Lady to insurance agency Office Manager. While she spent the first 51 years of her life in many different places, she made Kerrville her “forever home” when she moved here 30 years ago.

Shirley was an active and much-loved member of the recovery community in Kerrville and recently celebrated 44 years of continuous sobriety. Over the years, she helped countless people on their journey to recovery by her willingness to lend a hand, a ride, an ear, or a shoulder when called upon to do so. To her children and grandchildren, she was an exceptional role model for unconditional love and acceptance, as well as the importance of offering kindness to others.

Shirley loved to read and to bargain hunt in thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and antique stores. Her favorite pastime, however, was snuggling with one of the many dogs she adopted over the years – including two who were awarded the distinguished prizes of 1st and 2nd place in the Kerrville Ugliest Dog contest.

Shirley's husband of 18 years, Jerry Beck, passed one week after her. She is survived by her son and daughter, Danny Greenhalgh and Christina Dresser, her daughter-in-law Judi Greenhalgh, her son-in-law Todd Dresser, her son-in-family Fletcher Williams, her granddaughters Victoria, Krystle, Ella and Morgan, her great-granddaughter Audrey, and her first husband, Ron Greenhalgh. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brothers Leroy “Ed” and Robert “Bob” Mendenhall, her sister Deborah Ann Mendenhall, and her second husband John Van Cise.

Shirley and Jerry Beck's joint interment service will be held at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery on June 20 at 2:45pm. Their joint celebration of life will be held at the Dietert Center on June 21 from 2pm-5pm.

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