On Thursday, October 8, 2020, Roberta McShan, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend departed this earthly life and went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 83.
Roberta James McShan of Brownwood was born on March 6, 1937 in Las Animas, Colorado to Russie (Martin) and Chleo Thomas James. She grew up in Trickham, Texas and graduated from Bangs High School in 1955. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Howard Payne University.
After a short courtship with her life-long love, she married Pat Parker McShan of Brady, Texas on March 29, 1956. They moved to Menard, Texas where he was the high school band director and Roberta worked for the superintendent of schools. They moved to Brownwood in 1959 where she was homemaker and mother to her two children.
Roberta began her teaching career at East Elementary School, then was transferred to Woodland Heights Elementary, where she taught third grade until her retirement in 2002 for a total of 39 years in service to education. She made a positive impact on so many students instilling growth and confidence. She was known for her interpersonal skills where she had the innate talent of making one feel as if they were the most important person in the room. Roberta was also a dedicated member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society of Outstanding Women Educators as well as the Retired Teachers of Woodland Heights.
Her artistic hands were never idle. The exquisite and detailed sewing, needlecrafts and quilting projects that she so lovingly made by her patient hands were and are so very cherished by all who have received them. Roberta was a member of Heart and Hands Sewing Club and she quilted each week in the Trickham Community Center. She also shared her love through cooking for family and friends and rarely attended an event without a dish in hand. Another way she loved to use her hands was in playing bridge with friends.
Her servant’s heart was shown by her involvement in Meals On Wheels, Trickham Cemetery Association, where she served as secretary/treasurer, and First Baptist Church of Brownwood. She was active in Sunday School ministries and Vacation Bible School through the years. Roberta sacrificed herself, always putting the needs of family and friends above her own and always made time for others.
She was preceded in death by her father, Chleo Thomas James and her mother, Russie Martin James of Trickham. She is survived by her husband, Pat, her two children Cindy and husband Kelly Hoffman of Austin; Pat Jr. and wife Shannon McShan of Brownwood; six grandchildren, Erica Negrete and husband Adrian of Burleson, Chase McShan and wife Dana of Midland, Libby Harris and husband Joe of New Braunfels, Leah Hoffman of Austin, Vance McShan and wife Shandi of Midland and Lydia Hoffman of Austin. Her 10 great-grandchildren are Jared, Christian, Parker, Caleb, Gwyneth, Adriana, Perry, Clark, Grant and Miles.
She leaves a legacy of love that will live on and she frequently shared one of her favorite Bible verses from I Corinthians 13:13. “And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.”
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2020 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Brownwood. Burial will follow in the Trickham Cemetery under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home.
Condolences, memories and tributes can be offered to the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to First Baptist Church of Brownwood or Trickham Cemetery Association.
