Saying Good Bye to an RCE Legend who leaves behind a strong Legacy

It is with sadness that we must report the passing of Shirley Ann Bayless Hale Lincoln on January 22, 2014.  She was born on June 23, 1934 in Iraan, Texas.  Shirley graduated from Odessa high School in 1952 and from the university of Texas in 1956, magna cum laude, with a B. A. degree in the Plan Two program. Shirley completed her Master's degree from Cornell University on a Ford Foundation Fellowship in 1957.  On June 1, 1957, Shirley married her college sweetheart, Hulen Hale.
Shirley taught first grade for four years and became the the youngest educator to serve as an elementary school principal in the history of SBISD.
During Shirley's 43 year career, she served as president of the Texas elementary Principals' Association, president of the South Central Association of Elementary School Principals and president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.  Among her many honors, Shirley was also name Distinguished Principal of the Year in 1983.
In 1996, during a tragedy in her late adult life, she found a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Shirley leaves a legacy of students, teachers and parents that she touched through her 38 years at Rummel Creek.  How we will miss Hurricane Shirley!

On Monday, February 3rd, a gathering of her fellow educators, parents and past students joined together in the Shirley Lincoln Library at Rummel Creek to celebrate her life and share precious memories of this fine woman who moved at a fast pace and never met a problem she couldn't tackle one way or another.
Bonnie Williford Meine shared stories of the early days of Rummel Creek and the strength that this school was built upon.  It was a wonderful gathering of old friends just before the Rummel Creek school as we know it goes down in preparation for a new building.  How perfect that Shirley was able to attend our 50th anniversary celebration last spring!

 Flowers from TEPSA

Sublett Wild Family

Judy was a student and then her children also attended RCE!  

Martha Jorgensen (co-conspirator to get the gathering going), Susan Thompson 

David Mudd - first student to register at RCE in 1962!

David and his sister Pam (second student to register)

Bonnie starting to share the stories

Here's a little of what I had to say at the Gathering:

The library in the new school will continued to be named the Shirley Lincoln Library to keep her legacy going at RCE.  I would love to collect stories of Shirley to put together in a book to be left in the library.  So if you have stories and have a moment to drop me an e-mail..I’d love to have them.

Here at Rummel Creek, our fifth grade students write "I am poems," so here’s an "I am" Poem in memory of Shirley.

Shirley was from sticky notes, yellow legal pads, hand lotion and big glasses filled with water – always with a straw.

Shirley was from ambition, drive, determination, goals and achievements

Shirley was from faculty meetings, parents, teachers and students

Shirley was from Rummel Creek is home and faculty is family

Shirley was from Texas - Odessa, UT, Cornell, Spring Branch, and Rummel Creek, Marshall

Shirley was from “hey friend”, “Good to see you, good to see you”, “Gena” and “mr. Joe will take that”

Shirley was from Carrabas and Olive Garden

Shirley was from meticulous, Neiman Marcus, and hair appointments

Shirley Bayless Hale Lincoln was Educator Extraordinaire, Mentor to many and principal to plenty.

How blessed we all were to be a part of Shirley’s world. 

Wayne Schaper Sr. sharing about the scholarship

Roddie Ray-Stiles, principal from Meadwood & Frostwood sharing Shirley stories

Mike from TEPSA

Hulen Hale

A scholarship fund has been set up through the Spring Branch Education Foundation.  Please contact the Foundation if you would like to contribute in Shirley's memory.   Please note on your contribution that it is for the Shirley Bayless Hale Lincoln Scholarship.

Another fund has been set up to purchase a bench or sculpture at the new school in memory of Shirley.  If you are interested contact Rummel Creek and we'll get you more information.

Remembering fondly a true Rummel Creek Legacy.  Another Rummel Creek Legend/legacy will be celebrated at the Spring Branch Gala. 

 Rummel Creek as one former teacher put is "a utopia" - an unbelievable place to work and even better place to learn.  Through the Shirley stories we learned that Shirley asked for what she wanted, no matter who it was - she even asked the superintendent to get her a sandwich because she was working late.  That legacy has continued!  Rummel Creek is a very special place.