UPSHUR COUNTY - GRICE CEMETERY

Elizabeth "Betty" Dacus Shrum
Born: December 30, 1920
Died: November 27, 2015

GILMER -- ADA ELIZABETH DACUS SHRUM, (Ebis to family, Betty to friends) entered into heavenly life on November 27, 2015, at the age of 94, in Tyler, Texas, due to a severe stroke…one more month, and she would have been 95! She also greeted her husband, Bailey, her mother and father, Willie and Eura Dacus, her sister, Frances Dacus Neely, her brother and wife, William Joseph Dacus and Priscilla, her sister and husband, Bennie Dacus Williams and Royce Williams, and her brother, Donald LaRue Dacus, and her in-laws Irene and Arthur Shrum. 

Elizabeth was born on December 30, 1920, in the Grice Community, Upshur County, Texas. She graduated from Gilmer High School, and attended East Texas Baptist College, and Baylor University. She was married to Bailey Shrum, on June 16, 1946. 

Bailey was in the U. S. Air Corps during WWII, so he and Elizabeth travelled during his career, beginning in Shreveport, La, and, finally ended their travels in Sherman, TX, arriving there in 1952. Then they retired back to their home base in Gilmer, Texas. 

Elizabeth was the owner of a retail sewing machine business in Sherman in the early 1950’s, and then Assistant Manager of the Grayson Hotel, until joining Johnson & Johnson for 11 years as secretary to the plant manager. In Gilmer, she was owner of a Real Estate business, and worked until she was 81 years old. 

She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Sherman, where she served as president of the local club, and then District IV Director. She was also a member of Toastmistress, and Soroptimist International, where she served as Director of the South Central Division, serving five states—Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, PTA, and National Secretaries. In Gilmer, she served in numerous organizations, including the Upshur Water Board. Her hobbies included golf, reading, sewing and people! Her leadership abilities and commitment, led to her success. 

Elizabeth was named to Who’s Who of American Women in the 1974 edition. She was elected to the City Council in Sherman in 1971, and was the first woman to be elected to that council. She served on the Texoma Regional Planning Commission as a council representative to make plans to revive Perrin AFB with civilian businesses after Perrin closed in 1964. 

Elizabeth is survived by three children—Rebecca May, of Spring, TX; Linda East of Denton, TX; and David Shrum of Austin, TX. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Her sister, Barbara Dacus Wadlington, and sister-in-law, Harriet Dacus. Fourteen nieces and nephews, and several greats. 

Pallbearers will be her grandson and honorary pallbearers will be her nephews. 

Elizabeth was a member of First Baptist Church, Sherman, where she taught Sunday School for 15 years, and then, at First Baptist Church, Gilmer, where she loved her Sunday School class, and the church members, and sang in the choir for 24 years. 

A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 30, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church, Gilmer, with visitation Sunday evening, November 29th, from 5-7 at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, and from 1-2p.m. prior to the service. Burial in Grice Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer.