Photo courtesy of Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors - Denton
Denton, Texas
Dec 31, 1941 – Apr 9, 2022 (Age 80)
Shirley Kate Harper Gambrell, 80, passed away on April 9, 2022 in Denton. She was born to Fred and Mary Harper in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1941. She grew up in Dallas, graduating from North Dallas High School in 1960. She also graduated from the University of North Texas in 1964 with a BA in English. She began her teaching career in Jefferson County, Colorado, where she earned her MA in English at Loretto Heights College. She returned to Texas to teach in Dallas, Irving, Northwest and completed her career at W.T. White High School in Dallas.
Shirley was a member of St. David of Wales Episcopal Church in Denton where she served on Alter Guild and Daughters of the King.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, James Rodney Gambrell; her daughter, Anna Gambrell Chambers, her son-in-law, Duane Chambers, and her grand daughter, Lillian Kate Chambers.
Funeral services will be held at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 623 Ector St., Denton, TX 76201, or Sarcoma Center, MD Anderson, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030.
Read MoreI know this is very, very late but I just realized that Shirley has passed. I am so very sorry.
Jackie Potts
December 05, 2022 | Friend
Rod and Anna, I was so sorry to see Shirley’s obituary in last Sunday’s paper. I met Rod & Shirley when she was pregnant with Anna. My first husband & I had been married just a few months. I met her when she had surgery on her ankle when she broke it when she was pregnant. With it being an orthopedic surgery, there had to be X-rays & the anesthesiologist did everything to protect the unborn baby. In fact, if I remember right, Anna was born on my Grandpa’s birthday. I was the nurse in the O.R....
Debby Rudd
April 23, 2022 | Irving, TX | Friend
The perpetual light of our Lord and Savior shined brightly through Shirley’s loving and uplifting spirit. Her love for God, her deep faith and her eager willingness to serve at God’s Altar were unfaltering. She richly blessed all who knew her with her sweet and gentle kindness and her always loving friendship.
Rest eternal grant to Shirley, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
Bonnie Ivins
April 11, 2022 | Denton, TX | Friend
Shirley has been a delightful, trusted, and fun friend since our days at North Dallas H.S. and I am blessed to have known her. My condolences to Rod and her sweet family.
Cathey Hundley
April 11, 2022 | Dallas, TX | Friend
Single Tree
Mary Pfalzgraf
April 10, 2022
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Bill DeBerry, Jr. & Andrew DeBerry
April 10, 2022 | Denton, TX
