Services for Shirlee Cox Alford will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2014 in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Avinger Cemetery, in Avinger, TX. Mrs. Alford departed this earthly life on Tuesday afternoon, December 16, in Longview. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.
Mrs. Alford was born in San Augustine, TX to Lugenia Fussell Cox and James Walter Cox on January 26, 1935. Both parents preceded her in death. She was the youngest of 4 daughters.
The family moved to Commerce, where Mrs. Alford accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She attended school in Commerce from kindergarten all the way through her Master’s degree and her library certification. She graduated from Commerce High School in 1952 and received her B.S. degree from East Texas State Teacher’s College in 1955, now Texas A&M Commerce. In 1965 Ms. Alford received a M.S. degree and her library certification in 1991, both from Texas A&M Commerce.
While attending college Shirlee Cox met and married Donald Joe (Don) Alford on March 28, 1954. Mr. Alford entered the United States Air Force in November of 1953. After service 13 months in Alaska, they were stationed in Sumter, S.C. until November 1955.
After Mr. Alford was discharged from the U.S. A.F. in Sumter, S.C. the couple moved to Longview on February 15, 1953, where they raised their 3 children. They lived in Longview until 1986. In 1986 they moved to Avinger, TX, where they resided until Mr. Alford’s death in 1999. Ms. Alford then returned to Longview until the time of her death.
Ms. Alford worked with her husband in the insurance business from 1956 until 1966. She then became a teacher in the Longview I.S.D. she enjoyed a long and rewarding career a teacher and librarian. Ms. Alford. Ms. Alford was elected Teacher of the Year in 1981, and has served as president of the T.S.T.A of Longview. She was also a member of D.A.R and N.E.A. She always enjoyed seeing former students. It was especially a pleasure for her to have students in her classroom of whom she had taught their parents. She called them her “Grandchildren.”
Ms. Alford is survived by her sister, Totsie Lemons of Georgetown; and her brother in law Harold Risener of San Antonio. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Billie Warren, and Bennie Risener.
Surviving Ms. Alford are the children of Don and Shirlee Alford: son Joe and wife Cindy Alford and their children Chris Alford and his wife Jamie, and Brittni Alford; son Jim Alford and wife Tracy and their children Jim Alford, Jr. and his wife Lindsey and Jonathan Alford and his fiancé Jordan Eudy; daughter Lee Ann Stephens of White Oak and her daughter Lauren Burghart and her husband Brian, of Lake Cherokee and their children Molly Grace and Beau Taylor Burghart.
She is also survived by her nephews James Lemons and wife Tracy of Houston, Paul Lemons and wife Teresa of Georgetown, and Don Ed Wright and wife Carla of Schertx, TX; great nephews and nieces John, Brian and wife Brittni, Jacob and wife Stephanie, and Dana and Kelly.