Shereen Groogan

Deep into her 80s, Shereen Groogan laid eyes on a newly assembled exercise bike. Asked if she wanted it, she offered a wry smile and said, "Yes, yes I do."

In the two years preceding her July 7th passing, the octogenarian great-grandmother logged 2,398 miles-the equivalent of pedaling from Laredo, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta. As with all her lifelong commitments, Shereen was relentless and unshakable-a quality her family cherished as her greatest gift.

Born December 14, 1937, in Austin, Texas, Shereen was the second of three daughters to Sherman and Florine West. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School and attending Southwest Texas State, she met and married the love of her life, Bill Groogan. Their marriage spanned six rollicking decades, filled with family, travel, and countless hours at gyms and fields where Bill coached. With dogged persistence, Shereen spent literal years of her life at gyms, basketball courts, football fields, baseball parks, track meets, and golf tournaments-always steady, always graceful, never losing her cool even when confronted with horrific calls and bitter disappointments.

Her greatest devotion was to motherhood. Between 1961 and 1972, she and Bill adopted four children-Greg, Kathryn, Kenneth, and Elizabeth (Cissy). Later, as grandmother and great-grandmother, she poured her love into the next generations, helping raise her grandson Matthew and forging especially close bonds with great-grandchildren Kaleb and Maddie.

Shereen delighted in life's simple joys-Bailey's and coffee, homemade cornbread dressing, marathon domino games, Astros wins, and South Padre sunsets with her "Sweet William." Above all, her joy came from the happiness of her family. She was their rock, their foundation, and her mission of selfless love was fully accomplished.

Shereen Groogan is survived by her son Greg (Michelle) and daughters, Kathryn (Jerry) and Elizabeth, along with five granddaughters, five grandsons, four great-granddaughters and five great-grandsons. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Groogan, her parents, Sherman and Florine West, sisters Beverly Duff and Pat Hester, and son Kenneth Groogan. A mass in celebration of Shereen's life will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at San Martin de Porres at 9:30 AM.