Shirley Ann (Ghyton) McCracken, of Fort Worth, formerly of West, passed into everlasting life on March 10,2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her health quickly declined after she suffered multiple strokes in the previous year which were followed by a battle with cancer. Memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 9, 2022, in the chapel at Aderhold Funeral Home in West, Texas, followed by burial at nearby Bold Springs Cemetery. Rev. Terry McElrath will officiate. Shirley was born on December 9, 1944, in Waco, Texas, the daughter of Jim and Annie (Kroulik) Ghyton. She grew up in West. At an early age she became a Christian when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized in First Baptist Church in West. She attended West public schools and graduated high school in 1963. Shirley was an excellent student and participated in many activities including basketball, pep squad, FHA, and she also served as a class officer. She was a member of the National Honor Society. At the age of 75, she retired from DB Shenker after a lengthy career in the air freight field in the DFW metroplex. Her colleagues loved her quick wit and fun spirit, and her coworkers became her special family as they shared their day to day lives. Her customers always wanted to meet the sparkling person they were talking with on the other end of the phone as she was their “go to” person. They trusted her competence and efficiency in overseeing their most important business needs. Shirley had a giving spirit. She held a special place in her heart those in need and was a regular supporter of various animal charities as well as causes for homeless people. Shirley was a devoted mother and grandmother and was an exceptionally responsible single mother. She was committed to seeing her family’s dreams and goals become a reality no matter what was required of her. She was so proud of her daughter receiving an RN degree and establishing a successful career in nursing, and she beamed as she described her granddaughter working at her first job. She delighted in making Christmas special for her loved ones. She enjoyed watching Cowboy’s football, card games, Mexican food, reading, and patio sitting with her cat, Blackie, but her special passion was doting on her only granddaughter, Cheyenne, who was the apple of her eye and the center of her conversations. Shirley was preceded in death by her infant daughter, her parents, an infant brother, a half-brother, James Ghyton, and half-sister, Dee Ghyton Manning. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Debra McCracken and husband, Tom Williams, her granddaughter, Cheyenne Land, her sister, Barbara Bearden and husband, Charles, and lifelong friend and former husband, Claude McCracken. She also leaves behind the many special friends that she made in her work career. One of her loved ones will be remembering her in some way in every day that goes by. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you open your heart and home and adopt a shelter pet in her honor or donate to a credible animal charity of your choice. Suggested is Hill County Paw Pals, P O Box 1533, Hillsboro, TX, 76645. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
