Damon Eldred Shirley, 81, of Nederland, died Friday, September 7, 2012, at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur. Born September 6, 1931, in Camilla, San Jacinto County, Texas, he was the son of Lydia Lourena Adcock Shirley and John Pinkney Shirley. He was a United States Air Force Veteran and in 1990, he retired after thirty-two years from Jefferson Chemical in Port Neches.
As a boy, Damon gave his life to Christ in the Camilla Baptist Church and was a member of First Baptist Church in Nederland. Damon was well known in the area for his fiddle playing and playing at Bluegrass Festivals in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. When in the Air Force, he played in fiddle contests and for square dances in El Paso and New Mexico. He loved giving of his talent by helping others learn to play the fiddle and he played the fiddle and banjo at nursing homes and church functions. For years on Tuesday nights, friends would gather at his home for a musical “get together.” Friends would play their musical instruments and sing blue grass and gospel music.
His dream was completed by building a live steam engine and laying a model train track around his home. He enjoyed giving children and adults a ride in the box cars pulled by one of his engines. Damon was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother and loved his family and friends.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Barbara Sue Menefee Shirley of Nederland; sons, Michael Edward Scates and his wife, Marie, of Nederland and Winston Ronald Scates and his wife, Brenda, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; daughter, Pamela Susan Scates Moskal of Conroe; sister, Wanda Gatewood and her husband, Jack, of Hamshire; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. Mr. Shirley was preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother, Raymond Eldon Shirley.
A gathering of Mr. Shirley’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday evening, September 9, 2012, at Broussard’s 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 10, 2012, at Broussard’s. A graveside service will be 4:00 p.m., Monday afternoon at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Coldspring.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Nederland Music Department, 1911 Nederland Avenue, Nederland, Texas 77627; American Heart Association, P O Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284; or to a charity of choice.
