Shirley Jean McBride Burnett was born in Kansas on April 26, 1929 to parents Glenn and Mildred McBride.  She attended school in grades 1-6 in the country school near her home outside of Coffeyville, Kansas. She attended Coffeyville Public School in junior high and high school. She began college at Kansas State before returning to Coffeyville and meeting, falling in love with and marrying a young man from Texas by the name of Grady Burnett, who was attending the local junior college while playing football.  The young couple returned to Texas where Grady completed college and began a career in education.  His career took them to a number of small schools in the Panhandle of Texas, including Springlake-Earth CISD, Canadian ISD, Vega ISD and Wheeler ISD. During their Panhandle journey a son, Rick, and a daughter, Roe Ann, joined the family.  In 1964 the family took a leap of faith and moved to their final destination, Wylie, Texas where Grady served as the Head Coach at Wylie HS and ultimately as  Wylie HS Principal. Throughout their journey through life the couple made many lifelong friends and built many wonderful memories.

After moving to Wylie, Shirley soon completed her degree and began her career as an elementary teacher in Wylie ISD.  After her retirement from the classroom she remained active in a number of civic and charitable organizations, including serving as an officer in the Wylie Retired School Employees organization.  Later as a long time member she served as a volunteer librarian in the Wylie First Baptist Church Library. Shirley also served as a substitute for Wylie ISD for many years after retiring. She loved to travel and along with a regular group of fellow adventurers visited many awe inspiring places both domestically and abroad.

Shirley was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her husband Grady, her parents Glenn and Mildred McBride, her daughter Roe Ann Machen and her brother Gordon, McBride.  She is survived by her son Rick and wife Wanda Burnett of Frisco, TX, granddaughter Lindsey Wright and husband Aaron of Flower Mound, TX, grandson Beau Burnett and wife Stephanie and great grandson Marshall Burnett of Little Elm, TX, sister-in-law Pat McBride of Independence, KS.; as well a, numerous nephews and nieces and a host of great and caring friends.

A Memorial Service for Shirley will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Allen Funeral Home Chapel in Wylie, Texas.