Martha Hutson Harrison Shields

Funeral services for Martha Hutson Harrison Shields, 84, of Lufkin, will be held Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Harold Hancock and Tim Beamon officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mrs. Shields was born June 23, 1934 in Lufkin, Texas, the daughter of the late Evelyn (Walker) and Burke Hutson. She died Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at her residence.

Mrs. Shields might be her official name, but you usually heard Martha Ann, Mama Harrison, Nana, Mama Martha, or Mrs. Harrison. These names demonstrated the true life she really lived and the love that others felt for her. She lived life as a Christian woman who put serving others at the top of her journey. She was active with the Timberland Drive Church of Christ.

As a teacher, her former students always came back for visits. She believed in teaching more than the curriculum; she wanted her students to have a memory of an experience they would always remember. Her impact was felt at Hudson ISD and Groveton ISD for more than 25 years.

Students in her class were not the only ones that experienced her unconditional love. “Her kids” at church were truly her children and there were many. She went to their ball games, read to their classes at school, ate lunch with them, and invited them to her house where they decorated Christmas cookies, had Halloween parties, or went Christmas caroling. She was a 4-H leader of a very active club in the Hudson community where she set the example for serving others.

When she was not serving others, she loved traveling all over the world…Ireland was her favorite. Every summer she would travel with her two grandchildren, her daughters, or special friends. She loved to read, plant flowers around her yard, play the piano, and shop.

Her unconditional love included her dogs over the years, especially her faithful Hunter who was with her until the very end.

Mrs. Shields’ grandfather passed away on July 4, also. Knowing her strong love of family and country, her family finds comfort in her passing on such a patriotic day.

Survivors include her daughters, Melanie Willis and husband Rody of Klein, Monica Harrison of Denton, and Michele Harrison of Spring; stepchildren, Karla Shields, Jim Shields and Julie Patlan; grandchildren and spouses, Ashley and Dennis Crosby, Kendall Willis and fiancé Koa Azarm, Ryan and Elizabeth Smith, Derek and Brittany Smith; three great grandchildren, Landry, Harleigh, and Josiah; sister and brother-in-law, Rosamary and Johnny Smith of Anahuac; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Mary Ann Hutson of Rosehill, Bob and Marion Hutson of Grapeland; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved beagle, Hunter.

She was preceded in death by husbands, Melvin Harrison and Don T. Shields.

Pallbearers will be Wade Penn, Ben Penn, Cason Jenkins, Eli Jenkins, Riley Jenkins, Ashton Grissom, and Ian Hancock.  Honorary pallbearer is Easton Jenkins.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the organization of your choice, but her favorite was the Luke Slatter Memorial Scholarship, 6735 Ted Trout Dr., Lufkin, Texas 75904, Attn: Business Office.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors