Shirley Ann Rand was born in Welch, La., on Sept. 5, 1937, to the late Edna Hebert Rhymes and George Washington Rhymes. She attended Jasper, Texas, Houston, Texas, Iowa, La. and Sour Lake, Texas, high schools. Graduated in 1955 from Sour Lake High School. She was a bookkeeper for Massey Harris Ferguson after graduation. Shirley married Joe Rand on Aug. 24, 1957. They had two daughters, JoAnn and Judy. Shirley graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Sul Ross University, Alpine, Texas, in 1968 and graduated with a Masters in Elementary Education, Reading and Library Science from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, in 1976.
She dedicated her life to teaching elementary children for 41 years. Her teaching career began in Del Rio, Texas, and spanned to Tarkington, Conroe, and Shepherd. While teaching in Conroe she set up the reading program for Ben Milam Elementary for students with reading disabilities in grades 1-5. She also started the first library at Ben Milam Elementary. In 2002 she was named the Shepherd ISD Teacher of the Year. Shirley retired from teaching in May 2003. Transitioning from a 41-year career in the classroom to serving her community, she always found a way to nurture, guide, and care for the next generation. It takes a special kind of dedication to pour that much love into both a professional career and community. She had the heart of a humble servant, always giving with grace and compassion.
She poured her heart into the Rand-McIntyre Helping Hands Food Pantry feeding not just bodies, but souls. She was very active at both First Baptist and Good Shepherd Baptist in Shepherd, Tx. Shirley enjoyed volunteering for the Fantastic Friday’s program at First Baptist. She loved volunteering for Vacation Bible School at both churches. She also volunteered feeding and working with the children at Good Shepherd Baptist Wednesday night activities. Shirley loved helping her First Baptist family prepare and serve meals for students at the SHSU Baptist Student Ministry. She was also involved in OWLS (Older Wiser Livelier Seniors) at First Baptist Church. She loved to volunteer at the Shepherd Senior Citizens Center. Shirley was also a member of the Texas Retired School Personnel Association. Shirley’s life was a wonderful testament to her heart for service.
Her life’s greatest treasure has always been her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She loved being their Mimi. Her influence in our lives helped shape us into the people we are today. We are grateful, humbled, and blessed to have a mother who cared so deeply for her family. Though our family’s hearts are heavy with loss, we find comfort in knowing Shirley’s love, faith, and gentle spirit will live on through the many lives she touched.
Shirley was preceded in death by Edna Hebert Rhymes (mother), George Washington Rhymes (father), George Rhymes (brother), Carl Rhymes (brother), Jimmie Thomas Rand (father in-law), Hazel Rand (mother in-law), Joe Kirkland (brother in-law), and Loyd Hood (brother in-law).
Loved by all, Shirley leaves behind her loving husband of 69 years, Joe Max Rand and their two daughters JoAnn Rand Dusing (Bill), and Judy Rand Clark. Grandchildren Krystin Dusing Blount (Andy), William Rand Dusing (Saida), Kelsey Dusing Sparks (Jeff), Garrett Trobaugh (Caitlan), and Bryce Trobaugh. Great-Grandchildren Hardyn Blount, Hadley Blount, Lucia Dusing, Luna Dusing, Cooper Sparks, Riley Sparks, and Isla Trobaugh. She is also survived by her two sisters Geraldine Kirkland and Kay Rhymes, brother in-law, Jimmie Wayne Rand (Carol) as well as numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rand-McIntyre Helping Hands Food Pantry, Shepherd, Texas and Samaritan’s Purse, North Carolina.
A visitation for Shirley Ann Rand will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m., at Neal Funeral Home in Cleveland, Texas. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 2 p.m., at the First Baptist Church Shepherd Texas. The interment will follow at Farley Chapel Cemetery in Shepherd, Texas.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Ann Rand, please visit our flower store.