Shirley Ann LaFayette, 84, of Spring, Texas, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2022. Shirley was born on July 14, 1937 in Houston, Texas to the late Evelyn Baggett Zapp and Lloyd Otto Zapp.

Shirley, along with her mother and brother, Steve, lived in several places, including Washington D.C. and Kansas, as her father was a colonel in the Army and traveled all over.

Once settled back in Houston, Shirley attended Pershing Junior High and Lamar High School, where she was a cheerleader and involved in many clubs and organizations. She was a great student, but loved to have fun, too, always hanging out with her best girlfriends and her first true love, Robert Gary Kelley. Shirley attended The University of Texas for two years but came home to be with her family when her father passed away. She and Gary picked up where they left off and began dating again and married on August 30, 1957. They had 2 children, Kimberly Lynne Kelley and Mitchell Lloyd Kelley.

Shirley worked at Humble Oil for a few years and as a real estate agent, but mostly provided a loving home to her family. Shirley endured many heartaches over the years, when Gary passed away in 1991, and while taking care of Mitch, until he passed away in 2008, after a long battle with brain cancer. In 1997 she met the second love of her life, Carlos Ralph LaFayette. They married in May of 1998. They moved to their dream home on Lake Conroe where they lived until 2017 when they moved to Spring, Texas to be near Kim and her family. Sadly, in May of 2021, Carlos passed away after a spending a couple of years in a nursing home.

Shirley never met a stranger. She was a friend to everyone she met. She was the ultimate caregiver and was always thinking of others. She donated to many causes and charities throughout her years, everything from the Houston Food Bank to the SPCA. She loved and spoiled her granddaughters, or as she called them "my girls". She lived a generous life and considered herself to be blessed, always helping anyone in any way she could.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn and Lloyd Zapp; her first husband of 33 years, Gary; her second husband of 22 years, Carlos; and her son, Mitch, age 39.

She is survived by her daughter, Kim Kelley Strenger and husband Jim; granddaughters, Megan Kelley Strenger, Carleigh Paige Strenger, and Kennedy Nicole Kelley; her brother, Lloyd Steven Zapp and his wife Phyllis, and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

She will forever remain in our hearts.

The visitation will be held Sunday, 2/20 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Klein Funeral Home – Champion Forest, 16131 Champion Forest Dr. Klein, TX 77379.

The funeral will be held Monday, 2/21 at 10:00 am at KFH – CF, with the graveside service following at Klein Memorial Park Cemetery, 32539 SH 249 Pinehurst, Texas 77362.

Flowers or a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are welcomed and appreciated.

https://www.stjude.org/