JULY 26, 1934 – DECEMBER 24, 2022
Shirley Ruth Davis Hibbard passed away at the age of 88 on December 24, 2022, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born on July 26, 1934, in Douglass, Texas, to parents, Frank and Bessie Davis.
She was the “baby” of eight children and grew up on her family farm in Douglass, Texas. She had many fond memories of these years with her siblings and friends. After graduating from Douglass High School, she received a BBA and MBA (Secondary Education) from Stephen F. Austin State University. She worked her way through college as a secretary and was the first in her family to receive a college degree.
As an adult, she enjoyed returning to Douglass for church and school homecomings. As a teacher for over 30 years, she impacted many young people. She was a caring teacher who took genuine interest in her students. She returned to college after 25 years of teaching high school business to earn a special education endorsement and then completed her teaching career working with elementary special education students.
She enjoyed road trips–Colorado being one of her favorite destinations. However, her biggest adventure was a year-long trip to Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband, LD and son, Terry. She had a meticulous recollection of events and people. Her stories often had detours along the way but were always told with great detail.
She loved garage sales, thrifting, and finding a good bargain.
In her last years, she was kind to all of her caretakers. She asked questions about their lives and tried to remember them all by name.
She loved her family and followed her mother’s example by praying for them daily. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, LD Hibbard Sr; her siblings Hazel Addison, Leon Davis, Imogene Dominy, Ouida Bass, Agnes Nash, Betty Boehm and Billy Frank Davis.
She is survived by her children, Shari Phillips (Randy), Amy Saunders (Tracy) and Terry Wells (Chancey); Grandchildren, Wesley Wells, Jessica Sims (Isaac), Abigail Saunders, Lilly Wells, Alaina Wells and Charlie Wells; Great granddaughter, Sophie Sims; the Hibbard family; nieces and nephews and many extended family members.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 10:00 am at the Douglass Cemetery.
Thanks to breakthroughs in cancer research, she lived for 23 years after her diagnosis of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.casonmonk-metcalf.com for the Hibbard family.