Robert Thomas Shurtleff

Robert Thomas Shurtleff, 88, passed away on December 14, 2023.  He was born in Lampasas, Texas, on November 23, 1935.

A funeral service will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel located at 201 E. 3rd St in Lampasas on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.  A visitation will be held at the same location at 10:00 a.m., immediately preceding the funeral service.  A burial service will follow at the Townsen Cemetery east of Adamsville on FM 581.

Robert's parents were Robert O. and Ethel Shurtleff.  Robert grew up on the farm and ranch established in 1906 by his grandfather, William Wesley Shurtleff, in Lampasas County.  Growing up, Robert and his younger brother Buddy were extremely close, as he was with his numerous cousins.  The Simms Creek and Lampasas River area is where he worked and played growing up.  Robert had horses, and roped working on the farm and in the rodeo arena.

After graduating from Lampasas High School, Robert attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M), class of '58, and was a member of the Corps of Cadets.  He majored in petroleum engineering.  Robert put himself through college and worked in the Duncan Dining Hall as a "Duncan Volunteer", which was the name for the employees of the mess hall, in order to pay for his college.  He was employed during college summers with Union Oil Company of California and eventually would be hired full time after graduation from A&M.

In 1963, he married Mary Virginia Cash, whom he had met in Midland, Texas.  Robert and Mary raised 3 boys (Robert, Cy and Hunter) and were superb parents and a remarkable example of loving spouses through 60+ years of marriage.

Robert was a stellar employee for 35 years for "Unocal" and was able to climb the corporate ladder as a production superintendent and manager.  His employment in the oil patch took Robert and Mary and their family to numerous locations including Midland, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Moab, Utah; Casper, Wyoming; Edmond, Oklahoma; and Lafayette, Louisiana.

To call Robert an avid outdoorsman would be an understatement.  Since he was a young boy, he loved to hunt, fish and be outdoors.  He loved chasing big game in the western states, south Texas whitetail, quail in west Texas and big bass in Mexico.  Robert shared his passion with hunting with his wife Mary and the boys, and the whole family enjoyed fabulous hunting and fishing adventures.

Robert was also a prankster, a trait he inherited honestly from his father and his uncle, Thomas Cullen "T.C" Shurtleff.  Robert was quick with a joke, a tale, or if you were really deserving, a well thought prank.  He would get so tickled with himself telling jokes or the results of the pranks that he would struggle finishing the tale because of laughter.

In the late 1990s, Robert and Mary retired and moved back to the Shurtleff homestead place in Lampasas County.  Robert and Mary built a home, raised cattle, crops and a wonderful garden.  The ranch provided the country home for their boys and their families to come enjoy.  

Robert just recently celebrated his 88th birthday on Thanksgiving Day with a dinner and a house full of his entire family.

Robert is survived by his wife Mary Virginia Shurtleff, son Robert Thomas Shurtleff II and daughter-in-law, Michelle Shurtleff, son Cy Oliver Shurtleff and daughter-in-law Linley Shurtleff, son Wyley Hunter Shurtleff and daughter-in-law Marca Shurtleff, grandchildren Rylee, Megan, Ryan, Chase, C.R., Cylin and Taylor and brother, Samule Howard "Buddy" Shurtleff and his wife Pam.

If you would like to donate in lieu of flowers, send to: Townsen Cemetery Association, 895 CR 3731, Lampasas, TX, 76550.