Rhonda Shirey Stewart

With a heavy heart, the family of Rhonda Shirey Stewart, 71, of Port Aransas, Texas must announce the passing of our beloved sister, aunt and cousin on October 11th, 2025, at her home.

Rhonda Shirey Stewart was born in 1954 in Midland, Texas to Raymond and Gladys Shirey. As a child, her parents moved the family to Austin, Texas. Rhonda grew up riding horses around south Austin with her sister, Diana, and water skiing behind the family boat on Lake Austin. Rhonda graduated from Crockett High School in 1974, located in Austin, Texas.

As a self-made professional, Rhonda managed an office for Morgan Drive-Away, a mobile home moving company, and later drove horse carriages for Austin Carriage Company. Throughout the 1980's Rhonda worked as a bartender in the Austin area and later opened her own bars, The Saloon and later Giddy Ups. In 1998, Rhonda made her way to Port Aransas, Texas while vacationing with family, when she discovered a property for sale. She decided to sell her bars in Austin, make the move to Port Aransas and purchase the future home of The Salty Dog Saloon on Alister Street. The original building for The Salty Dog Saloon became a fixture on the island, featured in Texas Highways Magazine and in an episode of the hit PBS TV series, "The Daytripper", until it was destroyed by hurricane Harvey in 2017. Fortunately, two years later, Rhonda was able to rebuild The Salty Dog Saloon and reopen the business to much fanfare by locals and tourists. For nearly 30 years the residents of Port Aransas have embraced the well-known slogan of the Salty Dog Saloon, "Remember Da Dog, the Coolest Honky Tonk on the Texas Riviera".

Rhonda was also known by her friends and family to be an avid dog lover, poker player and award-winning fisherman. She is survived by her sister Diana Hurry, brother-in-law James Hurry, niece Blair Hurry and several cousins. She is predeceased by her father, Raymond Shirey and mother, Gladys Shirey.

A Celebration of Life will be held in November at The Salty Dog Saloon located at 203 N Alister St, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Exact time and date of service will be announced on the official Salty Dog Saloon Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/saltydogsaloon78373

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salty Paws of Port Aransas via their website https://saltypawsofportaransas.org/ and click on the "donate" button. Donations can also be made through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SaltyPawsofPortAransas/ and click the link "donate here".

Please mail check donations to Salty Paws, P.O. Box 2892, Port Aransas, Tx 78373. Receipts for all donations will be sent to individuals for both those made online and mailed in. If other methods are preferred, please contact SaltyPawsPA@gmail.com or call 361-774-9888.