Shirley Jeannette Burleson
February 8, 1941 ~ July 9, 2021
Shirley Jeannette O'Brien Burleson, age 80 of Palestine, Texas went to be with our Lord on Friday, July 9, 2021. She was born in Houston, Texas on February 8, 1941. Shirley put herself through nursing school and worked for an orthopedic surgeon in the Houston Medical Center. She moved to Columbus, Texas and worked as a teacher's aide for special needs children and drove the school bus. Next, she worked for the State of Texas to help mentally challenged adults learn basic skills, so they could live more independently. In 1999, she moved to Palestine, Texas and worked as a teacher's aide and bus driver for Westwood ISD, before moving full-time as a receptionist at Palestine Regional Medical Center until she retired in 2015.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Gaines O'Brien, Sr. and Nora F. Sample O'Brien, as well as her brother, Benjamin Gaines O'Brien, Jr.
Shirley is survived by her 4 children, Patrick and Sandra Burleson of Kingwood, Texas, Glenn and Rosalie Burleson of Katy, Texas, Nathan and Tracy Burleson of Katy, Texas and Kathy and Kris Camblin of Katy, Texas. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Tiffany, Jennifer, Curtis, Adam, Alicia and Valerie, and 2 great grandchildren, Ava and Taylor.
Viewing for Shirley Burleson will be held from one o'clock until four o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, July 16, 2021, at Rhone Funeral Home.
Friends are cordially invited to a graveside service with the family on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at one o'clock in the afternoon at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, 8417 FM 141, Dime Box, Texas 77853.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions can be directed towards Shriner's Hospital for Children – Houston, Attn: Donor Development, 6977 Main Street, Houston, Tx 77030 or MD Anderson, www.gifts.mdanderson.org.
Funeral services for Shirley Jeannette O'Brien Burleson are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Our Mother put up a solid fight, but she is The Lord, and the rest of our family there.
I remember my Mother when I was a kid learning to drive the Buick with 3 on the tree my dad bought her, she couldn’t drive it well. but every day when me and my friends came home from school watching her drive this car up & down the driveway for a few months until she learned to drive it .
My Mother taught us at an early age about honesty, we left the grocery store, and it was not exactly close to home, but we got home and she realized they had given her $10.00 too much in change, and we had to load up and take it back to the store, and she had to argue with them to get them to take it back, but they called and thanked her later.
It has been instilled in me, even now My boss will come to me me for an honest opinion, and I give it he always thanks me for the honesty.ÂÂ
I married my Beautiful wife about a month ago, and the first thing she told her was is to call her Mom, and she was so happy to call her Mom.
Mom used to sew our clothes. I remember when I was in 5th grade, I asked her to make me a dress like Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie. She made a yellow dress with a white apron and a white bonnet. I loved it and wore it to school. I love sewing and crochet, because of all of the things she made.
I remember when she told Marvin Zindler that he smoked stinky cigars
It’s been 5 years but we miss you.