Shirley Ann Measeles

1941 - 2021

Shirley Ann Measeles, one of Friendswood's most stalwart followers of Jesus Christ, went home on January 13, 2021, to spend eternity with God. Supported by her loving husband of 60 years, Mel Measeles, Shirley's powerful faith had carried her through a year of mounting health problems, from which she was finally released by our merciful Father.

She was born December 6, 1941 to Delno and Carrie Keller in Lubbock, Texas, the second of four Keller sisters, including Delna, Mary and Carol. Shirley graduated in 1960 from Lubbock High School, later attending Texas Tech University.

As a teenager, she met Mel at Glorieta church camp and the inseparable pair married in 1961. They moved to Friendswood in 1970 and raised their three beautiful girls, Paula, Debbie and Susan, in the Baptist Church. She took a job as secretary of the Friendswood Police Department and went on to graduate the Police Academy, ultimately becoming Police Chief of the City of Bayou Vista.

Shirley's faith, anchored by Isiah 26:3, fueled her lifetime commitment to public service and helping others, both as a volunteer and in her career. She and Mel were active for many years in a range of charitable endeavors involving the Independent Order of Foresters as well as numerous other programs and events - the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Multiple Sclerosis Society's MS 150, the Friendswood Prayer Breakfast, turtle patrols at the beach, and more. She served as a Pregnancy Center counselor and, even as she battled cancer in 2020, still served as a Living Waters Biblical Counselor. Shirley also for a time drove a special education bus for Friendswood ISD.

She was a devoted member as well as an employee of Bay Area Church in League City, where she served on the staff for at least 10 years. At the church, she served on the security team, played in the bell choir, served as an assistant to the music director, helped coordinate Vacation Bible School and everyone's favorite, Bethlehem City, for many years.

Her children and grandchildren were the apples of her eye and the many photos of her with them will be treasured for years to come. She and Mel enjoyed many hours together caring for their dogs, birds and chickens in addition to Shirley's lifelong love of reading and puzzles.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Mel, of Friendswood, her daughters, Paula (Eric) Whittington of Helotes, Texas; Debbie (Keith) Sabin of League City; and Susan (Mike) Newman of Pearland. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Casey and Colin Whittington, Sara and Shae McNutt, Taylor and Jonathan Newman, and Jackie, Max and Harrison Sabin; and by her sisters, Mary and Carol.

A celebration of life will be held February 13 at 2 pm at Bay Area Baptist Church, 4800 W Main Street, League City, with a visitation preceding the service at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, the foundation supporting the specific type of liver cancer that Shirley was fighting.