Shirley Margaret Hunter

Shirley Margaret Long Hunter, 88, of Abilene, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a committed teacher and community volunteer, died June 12, 2021, at home after a long illness.

A celebration of her life is planned for 1:00 pm on August 6th at the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center at Abilene Christian University.  The memorial service will be available on a Live Stream on the funeral home website, www.pbfuneraldirectors.com .  Click on “Live Streams” in the upper right corner.  Stream will be available at 12:50 p.m. on August 6 ^th .  A visitation with the family will be held Thursday evening, August 5th from 5-7 pm at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

Shirley was born April 17, 1933, in College Station, Texas to Wayne and Edna Hopper Long. She grew up there where her father taught engineering at Texas A&M University, moving with her family to Austin for her senior year in high school. After graduating from Austin High, she attended the University of Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1953.  She was a member of Tri Delta sorority, the University chorus, and other organizations.

While at UT, Shirley met law student Bob Hunter when the two were assigned to chair a Valentine’s Day social at University Avenue Church of Christ.  Within a semester, Bob had enlisted in the Navy and been assigned to Japan but not before the two became engaged.

Shirley graduated and was planning a visit to Thailand where her father had been sent by the U.S. State Department as a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Bob proposed by mail, sent her a ring purchased on the base and persuaded her they should not wait until his Navy enlistment was ended to marry.  They married May 27, 1954, at the International Church in Bangkok in a ceremony officiated by the Baptist chaplain at the State Department.

For a year, Shirley taught kindergarten at the American School in Yokosuka, Japan and later in the Washington, D.C. area, where Bob was assigned after his deployment.  After the Navy they moved to Abilene and began a lifetime of service to Abilene Christian University where they raised two sons and a daughter.

With her friend Vivian Clark, Shirley taught third grade Sunday School class at University Church of Christ for more than 30 years.  She was a founding member of Women for ACU and served on many community boards including the Abilene Zoo.  She was an active volunteer at the Grace Museum, Meals on Wheels and Christian Service Center. Much of her involvement centered around her children’s activities, serving as a Cub Scout den leader, Girl Scout troop leader, and as co-president with Bob of the Taylor Elementary PTA.

She opened her home for many students including ACU Sing Song practices of her daughter Carole’s sorority, Sigma Theta Chi, her son Kent’s fraternity, Galaxy, and the class of 1986, directed by her son, Les.  For many years she and Bob also hosted a midnight breakfast for newly selected Sing Song hosts and hostesses.  A talented seamstress, she created and sewed countless costumes, dresses, coats and suits for her children and grandchildren.

Though she grew up in College Station and Austin, she loved Abilene and supported her husband’s long political career (1986-2007) representing the Abilene area in the Texas House of Representatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom.  Shirley is survived by Bob, her husband of 67 years, their three children and their spouses:  Kent Hunter and Jonathan Blumberg of Sharon, Connecticut; Carole and Danny Phillips of Colleyville, Texas, and Les Hunter of Pasadena, California.  She is also survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Landon and Jennifer Phillips of Agoura Hills, California and their son, Kenzo; Chad and Aundrea Phillips of Dallas and their son, Beckham; Emily and Mitchell Danesi of Abilene and their children, Crawford and Henley; and Dino Hunter and Lyra Hunter of Pasadena, California. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Pam Long and Lo Hunter, and many other nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to honor Shirley’s life may do so with a gift to the Bob and Shirley Hunter Endowed Scholarship at ACU (ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132, acu.edu/giveonline), or the charity of their choice. The family would like to gratefully acknowledge the loving help given by Gloria Care while at University Place.