Shirley R. Whitesell Cheesman

Shirley R. Whitesell Cheesman, 86, passed away August 10, 2025 in San Angelo, TX. Shirley was born on July 19, 1939 in Santa Rita, New Mexico to Charles Whitesell and Mary Johnson Whitesell. She married the love of her life, Joe Cheesman, on December 24, 1954 at Bethal Temple Church in San Angelo. They shared 67 incredible years before he passed in 2022. They raised a daughter, Sherri Jo, and were blessed with two granddaughters, Lacy and Star as well as her beloved yorkie, Molly. In 1963, they moved to Houston and enrolled in Southern Bible College at age 17. She was ordained in a motel room in New Mexico by Dr. Edwin Lewis Cole. In 1965, they moved back to San Angelo and later pioneered and pastored Full Gospel Assembly Church for 56 years until moms passing. September 1st would have been 57 years. My moms and dads’ vision was a brand new, debt free sanctuary and 10 years later a family center/gym was also debt free. Shirley drew up the plans for the church and gym herself. They opened the new building/church on September 1, 1987.

Her favorite past times were camping, fishing, vacations in Junction and the Colorado mountains, Lady’s meetings, Ladies Retreats, Indian Mission Trips, Youth Camps, Kids Crusades as well as spending time with friends and family and her childhood friend Mary Ruth and best friends Geneva Vaughn, Betty Parker, Carol Dennis, and Barbara Mills. Shirley pastored for many years but also built many churches on several Indian Reservations. (She would be in the kitchen colling while my daddy helped build including behind the scenes with Bro. Don and Naomi Burke). A fun fact about mom, she was a jokester and on one of many vacations to Cloudcroft, NM with friends, family and Bro. Jim and Marsha Boatright, she changed out Bro. Boatright’s shampoo and put honey in it. We still laugh about this to this day.

She is survived by her loving daughter; Sherri and husband David Hollebeke, two granddaughters; Lacy Amyx and Star Burlew and her husband Rory. In addition, she leaves one great granddaughter, Mia and great grandson, Kasey; as well as bonus shared kids, nephew, Jay Merrill and wife, Christy, and niece Lisa Davis and her husband, Jeff; sisters, Dortha Hanna and Faye Meeks; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, her church family, and her beloved yorkie, Molly and Molly's seeing eye dog, Bear. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Cheesman (3 years to the day of his passing), her parents Charles and Mary Johnson Whitesell; sister, Helen Clevenger; brothers Charles Whitesell and Arnel Whitesell and (Bonus Kid) sister-in-law, Mary Cheesman.

A visitation will be held on August 22, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Harper Funeral Home, 2606 Southland Blvd. San Angelo, TX 76904. A funeral will be held at Harper Funeral Home on August 23, 2025 at 10:00 am. A graveside will follow at Belvedere Cemetery, 3604 Arden Rd. San Angelo, TX 76901. Lunch for family and friends will be at Full Gospel Assembly Church, 1017 Alexander San Angelo, TX 76901 following the burial.

Officiating the services will be Bro. Jim Boatright and serving as pallbearers are; Jerry Ripple Jr., Jason Ripple, Tim Cheesman, Jacob Jones, Jay Merril, Bill Whitesell. Honorary Pallbearers include Tony Arhelger, Steven Arhelger, Jerry Ripple Sr. and Roy Mills.

If you would like to continue mom’s mission, one of her greatest joys was the Indian Missions for backpacks filled with essential school supplies, blankets etc. for Christmas for Indian Children. Yearly donations can be made to Full Gospel Assembly, Indian Missions Fund P.O. Box 3865 San Angelo, TX 76902.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her church family and all that prayed for her. Especially her granddaughter, Lacy that was her constant caregiver. She loved making her laugh when she no laughter. A question that always made her laugh was, What do you want to eat and she would laugh and give Lacy a funny look. Also, a special thanks to Interim Hospice, her nurse Janet and her aide Jessica for all their loving care. Another thanks to Erika, Malorie and Jeff for her previous stays at Encompass Rehab and the wonderful workers at Shannon Neuro Rehab, her doctors Marty Rivera, Theresa Jeter, Shellye Harris for all the dedicated years they took care of her. Her friends Betty and Carol for their love and help, and a huge shoutout to Tabitha Baker for all the hard work that she does as the church secretary.