Biography for Shirley (Early) Alford

 I started school at Coggin Elementary and went through the third grade.  I changed to Central Ward from the 4^th to the 7^th grade.  When I started to Junior High I met Douglas Alford.  We were friends for several years and started dating our junior year.  I was a member of the band my junior and senior years.  

 After graduation Doug went to Texas A & M and I went to work at McClellan’s Variety Store until we married in October of 1957.  We moved to West Texas in 1958 and our first child was born there.  We moved back to Brownwood in December of 1958 and both of us went to work for the telephone company.  We had two more children in Brownwood .  Doug went to Howard Payne where he got his degree in 1966.  We moved to Irving , Texas and both were working for General Telephone.

 Doug decided to enter the priesthood and we moved to Wisconsin where he attended seminary.  I was able to transfer with GTE to Wisconsin .  He received his master’s degree in 1979 and was ordained to the deaconate.  We moved to Fort Worth and he was ordained to the priesthood in 1980.  I was able to transfer back to Irving with GTE.  In 1990 Doug Was called to the church in Graham and I was able to retire with 27 years service.

My daughter and I opened our own business in Graham for about 8 years.  I retired again in 2000.  Doug retired in 1999.  After several years of retirement I went to work at Wal-Mart in 2005.  Doug became ill that fall and had surgery.  He was doing great after surgery.  Five months after surgery he died of a blood clot.

I retired again, for the last time, in May of 2006.  I have 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.  I see a lot of the kids and grandkids as some of them live in Graham and others in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. I do a lot of work on my computer with photos and making DVD slideshows.  I love my yard and like to work in it and I have a 10 pound Min-Pin that thinks he is a 50 pound Rottweiler.    

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