Shirley Mae Risner Showmaker died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Fort Worth, at the age of 90. Shirley Mae Risner Showmaker was born at home in West Frankfort, Illinois, on Monday, Feb. 17, 1936, during a snow blizzard. The sixth child of James Arthur Risner and Elsie Mabel Massey, Shirley was named after the beloved child actress Shirley Temple. At the time of her birth, she had two brothers, Asa James and Arthur Leon, and three sisters, Addie Ruth, Elsie Faye, and Nila Rose. As Shirley recalled in a talk she gave at the Risner family reunion in 2008, she was the youngest girl in the family and remained the baby for six years, until her younger brother, Waldo Calvin, affectionately known as “Podge,” was born. Tragedy struck the family just three months after Podge’s birth, when Shirley’s father died of a stroke. Her mother, Elsie, was only 35 years old and suddenly faced the responsibility of raising seven children with no money. Shirley grew up in a two-bedroom home with an outhouse, a single cold-water faucet, and a coal-burning stove to keep the house warm. Despite their hardships, Elsie, instilled in her children the importance of faith, hard work, and pride in how they presented themselves. Shirley carried those same values throughout her life. In those days, the family didn’t have a telephone, so anyone wanting to talk to Shirley had to call one of the neighbors. Before long, someone would come hurrying over to tell Shirley. More often than not, the neighbor would shout loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear, “Shirley, a boy is on the phone for you!” Shirley’s beauty, popularity, and academic excellence made her a standout at school. In her senior year she was crowned Carnival Queen, a great honor at her school and in her community. Shirley and Dick both graduated from Frankfort Community High School in 1953, but their story began long before graduation. As Shirley recalled, because they were seated alphabetically, Dick sat either in front of or behind her in class. When he sat behind her, she let him copy her schoolwork. But when he sat in front of her and turned around to sneak a look at her answers, she would get mad at him for being so obvious! Later in high school, Dick asked Shirley to go with him on a school hayride. He told her he had asked her because she was the prettiest girl in school. Shirley thought Dick was one of the “cool guys” and liked his style, especially his blue jeans and white button-down shirts with the cuffs always flipped up. Their romance continued through high school and into college. They married in West Frankfort, Illinois, on Aug. 21, 1954, just over a year after graduating from high school. They were married nearly 70 years. As Dick and Shirley began their life together, they moved to Mexico, Missouri, where their first two daughters, Debbie and Cindy, were born. Later, they moved to Overland Park, Kansas, where their two sons, Richard and Chris, joined the family. Eventually, they made their way to Fort Worth, where their youngest daughter, Jennifer, was born. Together, Shirley and Dick raised five children, building a family that remained at the heart of Shirley’s life. Shirley was a devoted mother. Her children never walked into an empty house; their mom was always there. Every night, Shirley stayed up until all of her children were home and safely in bed, with their bedroom lights turned off. She kept an immaculate house, and even at the end of a busy day, she made sure the laundry was washed, folded, and put away. She finished her evening with the newspaper, which she read cover to cover every night. Shirley was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and devoted many years to serving the youth of her congregation through the Young Women organization. She chaperoned dances and youth conferences, attended Girl’s Camp and canoe trips, and organized volleyball tournaments. She was one of the original members that met at the 7th Street Chapel. Shirley was fiercely competitive. Whether playing canasta, ping pong, or tennis, she always wanted to win! She loved competing with her Ridglea Country Club interclub team. Even at 90, she occasionally got out on the pickleball court. Her family just had to make sure she didn’t run after the ball for fear she might fall. But if the ball came to her, she could still return it! Shirley loved having her large family gathered around her, with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren filling the house. She made Christmas magical, covering the house in decorations and piling presents beneath the tree. There were so many gifts that sometimes the family had to take a break from opening presents to eat! Other holidays, birthdays, weddings, and the arrival of new babies were celebrated with that same enthusiasm. Shirley and Dick made every effort to be there for their family. They attended swim meets at Ridglea Country Club, musical performances, and sporting events. They also traveled to visit family members who lived out of state. Shirley and Dick loved Cancun, where they spent two to three weeks each year making memories with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Shirley loved laying out in the sun, movies with popcorn, dancing, Diet Cokes, long road trips, shopping for great finds, and boating at her and Dick’s Granbury Lake house. She also treasured her friendships. For more than 50 years, she and Dick were part of a dinner group of six couples who gathered most months to share meals, laughter, and friendship. She became good friends with her children’s friends and their parents and made them all feel like family. Shirley had a special gift for making everyone feel important and loved. And anyone who knew her will remember her gorgeous smile, which could light up a room. Shirley is survived by her five children, Debra (Richard) Forrester, Cynthia (Hugh) Redd, Richard A. Showmaker, Christopher Showmaker, and Jennifer (Brian) Hart; 14 living grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren, with another soon to arrive, as well as nieces, nephews, and cherished friends. All love her dearly. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dick, who died on Feb. 21, 2024, and her grandson, Eric Forrester. Visitation: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Greenwood Funeral Home Memorial Suite B at 3344 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth 76107. Funeral: 9:30 am, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, in Greenwood’s Independence Chapel at 3210 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth 76107. Interment in Greenwood Memorial Park to follow.

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