Shirley Jean Smith Braden of Hondo, age 87, passed away Wednesday, September 1, 2021 in Hondo.

Shirley was born in Comfort, Texas on January 8, 1934, the daughter of LA and Vivian Paine Smith. In 1935, her family moved to Hondo where her sister Betty and brother Robert "Butch" were born. Shirley attended Hondo High School and was a Majorette with many of her dear friends.

Shirley and Curtis Braden eloped and were married in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in 1953 when she was 19 years old. Curtis, also from Hondo, was 23 when they were married. They spent the next several years traveling throughout the United States while Curtis worked as a land surveyor. They visited many beautiful areas of the country and told countless stories of their adventures. Shirley's favorite place was Wyoming. She said it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. Their oldest son, Barry, was born in 1955 and traveled with them for a few short years.

After many years on the road, Shirley came back to Hondo to raise her family. Her parents and sister were still in Hondo and she felt it would be best for the kids to settle in her home town. Clay was born in 1959 and Angela was born in 1963. Shirley went to work for Hondo National Bank as a Bank Teller and later became the Head Cashier. Vivian (Shirley's mother) and Betty (Shirley's sister) helped with the children while she worked. The entire family did spend a few years in North Carolina where Curtis was assigned for work. It was a temporary assignment and later the family moved back to Hondo.

After the kids graduated Shirley and Curtis moved to Medina Lake to fulfill a lifelong dream they had of living near the water. Medina Lake had always been their vacation destination with countless hours spent boating and skiing. In 1993, Shirley retired from work to help raise her grandchildren. She helped with all of them as much as she could and lived every moment for family time. She was affectionately known to her grandchildren and their friends as "B". After Curtis died, she moved back to Hondo to be closer to her parents and to her children. Later in life, she most enjoyed all the sports her grandchildren participated in. She attended countless games until the last ones graduated in 2012. As time went by many of the grandchildren were married and had children of their own. This brought much joy to Shirley who always loved to see and hold the babies and watch them grow up.

Survivors include her sons, Barry Braden (Ginny) of Hondo and Clay Braden (Mary Linda) of D'Hanis; daughter Angela Wolff (Stefan) of Hondo; grandchildren, Chris Braden (Marissa) and John Braden (Kaylene), Mallory Posey (Jake), Hanna McGehee (Taylor), Collin Braden (Erin) and Shane and Alec Wolff; nine great-grandchildren; sister Betty Gilliam (Ralph) of Hondo; and brother, Robert "Butch" Smith (Gwen) of Smithville.

Funeral services will be Friday, September 10, at 10 a.m., at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home Chapel, followed by interment at the Hondo Cemetery, St John Section.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.