Shelia Rogers Poole

WICHITA FALLS—Shelia Rogers Poole, 81, of Wichita Falls made a graceful exit, surrounded by her family. Today and forever, she will be flying with the angels, and maybe Elvis.

She leaves behind her husband and absolute rock of 59 years, James; her son, Scott and wife, Amanda, from Brownwood; her daughter, Mary Lindsey Gabriel and husband, Tim, of Amarillo; six grandsons, Jackson and Parker Poole, James Ellis, Grady and Josh Gabriel, and Kaden Bessent; her brother, Billy Rogers and wife, Peggy, and their children, Jennifer Grigsby and Sean; brothersin- law, Jerry and Paul Wayne Poole; sisters-in-law, Nelva Moss and Alfa House; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless lifelong friends.

Shelia was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Linda Rogers Taylor.

A Celebration of Life was held at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.

Shelia was born on October 19, 1942 in Camden, Arkansas, the oldest child of Mary Belle (Cathey) and Grady Rogers. When she was a child, her family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, where she was a 1960 graduate of Lawton High School. Shelia loved Elvis, boys with hot rods, and red lipstick.

While attending Cameron College, Shelia fell for a hunky football player from Louisiana, James Poole. After they married in 1964, they attended Southwestern College, where they both earned master’s degrees in education. From thereon was a whirlwind of coaching assignments for James, as Shelia taught elementary school. Two children, Scott and Mary Lindsey, followed. Eventually, they settled in Lockney, Texas, with James as principal of the high school and Shelia as an elementary teacher. Shelia was a football mom, a dance mom, a pageant mom, a UIL academic coach, and a cheerleader coach. She left many friends in Lockney as she and James retired and moved to Wichita Falls in 2004.

Shelia was a lifelong joiner and doer, joining every social club, study club, choir, and craft groups. She was passionate about everything, her family, friends, decorating, entertaining, calligraphy and her Outlander novels. In her retirement, Shelia traveled, sang with Encore, participated in Bible studies at First Christian Church and enjoyed her grandsons. One of her favorite activities was her weekly trip to her hairdresser, Cyndi. Even to the end, she would never be caught in public without full makeup, including red lipstick and her false eyelashes.

“She’s is a good girl, is crazy ‘bout Elvis.” In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Shelia’s name to Hospice of Wichita Falls 4909 Johnson Rd, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley. com