Balis Gene Dailey Shoultz was born October 12, 1927, at the family homestead in the Dailey Community near Grapeland, Texas. She was born to Balis Edens Dailey, a businessman and rancher, and his wife, Bulah Pool Dailey, a teacher. She lived at Dailey until the family moved to Grapeland to be nearer school. She was a proud Grapeland Sandie – a band member, twirler, ran track and participated in Speech and Drama. Gene was a member of Grapeland First Baptist Church until her marriage. After high school, she attended Baylor University where she studied voice, and graduated with degrees in Bible and Education and a minor in PE.
She married Jack Wright Shoultz in 1949, a union which lasted 62 years until his death in 2011. After their marriage, they moved to Dallas where Gene taught elementary school while Jack completed seminary to become a Methodist minister at SMU. Together they served churches in East Texas, Houston and the Gulf Coast areas until Jack retired in 1993. During Jack’s appointments, Gene taught and substituted in Aldine, Beaumont, Houston and Lufkin school districts.
Over the years, Gene contributed her time at Wesley House in Houston where she was a pianist in the children’s division and tutored elementary age students once a week. She was a children’s Sunday school and Bible school teacher. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, was a Camp Fire Girls leader, and taught piano lessons. After retirement in Grapeland, she was a member of the Grapeland Garden Club, the Bookmark Club, a member of the Dailey Cemetery board, the Grapeland Public Library, a member of the Texas Democratic party, United Methodist Women, and a member of Grapeland First United Methodist church. She and Jack traveled to Europe, Africa and the Middle East – The Holy Lands, and enjoyed visiting friends, family, past and present church members, and ministerial friends. They tended to their farms, fences, cattle and hay. Gene and Jack were known for their wonderful quail dinners and Gene’s pecan pies.
Gene adored children and was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She taught her daughters to read before they were school age and imparted an enduring love of books. Her grandchildren loved their visits and road trips with “Gene and Pa.”
Gene was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Wright Shoultz, her parents, Balis and Bulah Dailey, and her sisters, Iva Helen and Jo Ann Dailey. She is survived by her daughter, Sue Anne Kuhns and husband, Bill of Irvine, California, her daughter, Jo Ellen Small and husband, Jeffrey, of Grapeland, Texas, her granddaughter, Jacqueline Kuhns Culliver of Orefield, Pennsylvania, grandson, Joseph Edens Kuhns, of Irvine, California, as well as her great grandchildren Jenna, Jaxton, and Jourdin Culliver. She is survived by nieces and nephews and many beloved cousins.
The family would like to express our thanks to the staff at Brookdale of Palestine who watched over and protected Gene for the past 10 years. We are forever grateful to Pat Johnson and Wanda McDaniel, Gene’s caregivers who were devoted to her needs the past 4 years and who became our extended family, which includes her most recent caregiver, Carolyn Jones. And in her final days, Caring Hearts Hospice brought her comfort and compassion. Thank you to Gerri, Jamie, Laryn, Crystal and Rev. Davis.
Gene’s funeral arrangements are being handled by Walker and Walker Funeral Home in Grapeland, Texas. Friends and family are invited to the funeral at Grapeland First United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 1 PM. Immediately after her funeral, the interment will be at Dailey Community Cemetery, FM 227 West, Grapeland, Texas. Visitation will be at Walker and Walker Funeral Home, Grapeland, Texas from 5-7 PM, Friday, April 22, 2022.
Anyone desiring to donate memorials may do so to the Grapeland First United Methodist Church, the Dailey Community Cemetery (c/o Mary Lou Huff, 5388 FM 1272, Grapeland, TX, 75844) or the Grapeland Public Library, or to the charity of your choice.
Visitation: Friday, April 22, 2022
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Walker & Walker
Service: Saturday, April 23, 2022
1:00 PM
Grapeland First United Methodist Church
715 US HIGHWAY 287 North
Grapeland, TX
Interment
Dailey Community Cemetery
Grapeland, TX
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