Shirley Louise (Hector) Stout

Shirley Louise Hector Stout, 94, of Bryan, Texas, joined her Heavenly Father on September 11, 2021. She was born February 22, 1927 to Ernest and Marie Spitzer Hector in San Benito, Texas. At the age of two, her mother, Marie, died and she was raised by her father and stepmother, Inez Wilson Hector.

Shirley met and married James Stout in 1946. They were happily married for 32 years until his death in 1978. Shirley worked for Texas Gold Stamp Center and retired from H.E.B. after 19 years of faithful service. To her friends and family, she was known as “Potato Hector” as she loved any kind of potato and you would always find a side of ranch dressing at every meal.

Shirley never met a stranger and made many friends on her travels throughout the USA, including an RV trip to Alaska. Shirley loved her poodles, bowling, crocheting blankets for her family and sending 150 Christmas cards every year. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in San Benito.

She is survived by her children, Walter James Stout (Clarisa) and Sharron Roberts (Don); five grandchildren, Stormy Henning (Hank), Shane Thornburg (Kathleen), D. J. Stout (Christine), Jimmy Stout (Amy), and Kelly Weller (John); ten great-grandchildren, Claire, Zachary, Bethany, Michaela, Kenzie, Lillie, Henry, Eli, Tristan, and William; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; her siblings, Carol Mae Swanson and Richard Hector; and many devoted friends.

Shirley is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Becky Kay Stout; brother-in-law, Arlo Swason; several nieces and nephews; and her parents.

A funeral service will take place Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home Chapel. To view the funeral service via live-stream, go to: https://www.sanbenitofuneralhome.com/tributes/ShirleyLouise-Stout

Following the funeral service, Shirley will be laid to rest at Mont Meta Memorial Park.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Shane Thornburg, Jimmy Stout, Don Roberts, and John Weller.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or to a local charity of your choice.