Obituary

Reta Joyce McSwain Shugart, 64, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Austin. Mrs. Shugart was born in Plainview on April 5, 1947. She attended Plainview public schools. In 1966, she was named the first Miss Plainview and participated in the Miss Texas Pageant. She later attended Mary Hardin-Baylor and the University of Texas at Austin. She worked as the administrative assistant to the chief of police with the University of Texas. One of her jobs was running the elevator at the UT football games where she was known to lead the elevator occupants in choruses of "The Eyes of Texas." She was mother of Melissa and Scott Bryant. Her home was always open to other "children" who called her "Mom" and whose life she influenced. In 1982, she married Ernest Shugart and they combined their families into one. Mrs. Shugart is survived by her husband, Ernest Shugart of Austin; Melissa and Mason Lincoln of Corpus Christi, Texas, Scott and Ginger Bryant of Bastrop, Texas, Shelley Gowen of Norman, Okla., Paige and Chad Murphy of Norman, Okla., and Dugan Shugart and Sarah Upchurch of Round Rock, Texas; grandchildren, Makayla and Deklin Bryant of Bastrop, Elizabeth and Blane Gowen of Norman, and Baylor Ryker and Blair Murphy of Norman; sisters, Beverly and Ted Sanders of Plainview, and Janice and Wendell Rowland of Tyler; numerous nieces and nephews and multitudes of friends. Love and appreciation to the staff of St. David's South Austin Hospital, Dr. Jennifer Wright, Dr. Howard Marcus and Dr. James Kalpaxis for their dedicated love and care. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to MDS Foundation, 4573 South Broad Street, Suite 150, Yardville, NJ 08620.