1934
Blanca
2011
Blanca Ramirez Shawn
March 2, 1934 — February 21, 2011
BLANCA RAMIREZ SHAWN
On March 2, 1934, Blanca Sylvia was born to Cirilo and Victoria Ramirez in Kenedy, Texas. Blanca resided in Pharr, Texas with her father, mother, three sisters and one brother. During those early childhood years, Blanca spent most of her time helping her mother care for her younger siblings.
Blanca grew into a beautiful young lady and in 1954, during her senior year in high school, she was chosen Homecoming Queen. She was stunning and she soon caught the eye of a young man named James C. Shawn, “Jimmy”. Jimmy courted Blanca for several years, wooing her with love notes on the ground and love notes by parachutes from the air. On June 20, 1957 she married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy, in Indiana and they returned to the Valley to live in San Juan, Texas. Many of her friends will remember Blanca was affectionately nicknamed Elizabeth Taylor whom she resembled. Blanca worked next to her husband Jimmy for over 25 years at Truck Service Garage, Mobile Crane Service and the All Valley Flea Market. Her favorite time of year was Spring, she relished viewing the hundreds of shades of green and she required that anyone with her take the time to appreciate how beautiful the world looked. She was an accomplished seamstress, she sewed uncountable numbers of infant clothes, Halloween costumes, prom dresses, important date outfits, curtains and bed ruffles. She was also a great gardener and enjoyed reading a good book. Spending weekends in the Texas Hill Country, sitting on a porch and sipping iced tea were some of her favorite past-times. The last years of her life were spent being a loving mother and grandmother until she passed away at the age 76 on Monday, February 21, 2011, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg surrounded by her family.
Blanca leaves behind her husband of 53 years, James C. Shawn, of San Juan; four children, Victoria Ann (Kurt) Stephen, of McAllen, James R. (Elizabeth) Shawn, of Brookshire, Texas, Elizabeth Ann Shawn, of San Juan, Michael D. Shawn, MD, of Lion Lake, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Jennifer Klass Shawn, of Portland, Oregon; seven grandchildren; Victoria Elyse Stephen, Sophia Isabella Stephen, John Alexander Stephen, James C. Shawn II, Xela Anneliese Shawn, Socrates Andrew Shawn and Stacey Verhine; one great grandchild Jack Verhine; a brother, Edward (Cory) Ramirez, of Alamo; and a sister, Lydia (Gilbert) Leal, of Pharr.
Preceding her in death are her father, Cirilo Ramirez; her mother, Victoria Salinas Ramirez; and her sisters, Anita Bass and Amelia Carmona.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 pm, with a 7 pm rosary Thursday, February 24, 2011, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Mass will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 25, 2011 at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, 1108 W. Hackberry Street, McAllen, Texas. Interment to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Vannie Cook Children’s Clinic, 101 W. Expressway 83, McAllen, Texas 78503 or Make a Wish Foundation, 1801 South Col Rowe, McAllen, Texas 78503.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.
On March 2, 1934, Blanca Sylvia was born to Cirilo and Victoria Ramirez in Kenedy, Texas. Blanca resided in Pharr, Texas with her father, mother, three sisters and one brother. During those early childhood years, Blanca spent most of her time helping her mother care for her younger siblings.
Blanca grew into a beautiful young lady and in 1954, during her senior year in high school, she was chosen Homecoming Queen. She was stunning and she soon caught the eye of a young man named James C. Shawn, “Jimmy”. Jimmy courted Blanca for several years, wooing her with love notes on the ground and love notes by parachutes from the air. On June 20, 1957 she married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy, in Indiana and they returned to the Valley to live in San Juan, Texas. Many of her friends will remember Blanca was affectionately nicknamed Elizabeth Taylor whom she resembled. Blanca worked next to her husband Jimmy for over 25 years at Truck Service Garage, Mobile Crane Service and the All Valley Flea Market. Her favorite time of year was Spring, she relished viewing the hundreds of shades of green and she required that anyone with her take the time to appreciate how beautiful the world looked. She was an accomplished seamstress, she sewed uncountable numbers of infant clothes, Halloween costumes, prom dresses, important date outfits, curtains and bed ruffles. She was also a great gardener and enjoyed reading a good book. Spending weekends in the Texas Hill Country, sitting on a porch and sipping iced tea were some of her favorite past-times. The last years of her life were spent being a loving mother and grandmother until she passed away at the age 76 on Monday, February 21, 2011, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg surrounded by her family.
Blanca leaves behind her husband of 53 years, James C. Shawn, of San Juan; four children, Victoria Ann (Kurt) Stephen, of McAllen, James R. (Elizabeth) Shawn, of Brookshire, Texas, Elizabeth Ann Shawn, of San Juan, Michael D. Shawn, MD, of Lion Lake, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Jennifer Klass Shawn, of Portland, Oregon; seven grandchildren; Victoria Elyse Stephen, Sophia Isabella Stephen, John Alexander Stephen, James C. Shawn II, Xela Anneliese Shawn, Socrates Andrew Shawn and Stacey Verhine; one great grandchild Jack Verhine; a brother, Edward (Cory) Ramirez, of Alamo; and a sister, Lydia (Gilbert) Leal, of Pharr.
Preceding her in death are her father, Cirilo Ramirez; her mother, Victoria Salinas Ramirez; and her sisters, Anita Bass and Amelia Carmona.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 pm, with a 7 pm rosary Thursday, February 24, 2011, at Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan. Mass will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 25, 2011 at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, 1108 W. Hackberry Street, McAllen, Texas. Interment to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Vannie Cook Children’s Clinic, 101 W. Expressway 83, McAllen, Texas 78503 or Make a Wish Foundation, 1801 South Col Rowe, McAllen, Texas 78503.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Blanca Ramirez Shawn, please visit our flower store.
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