Obituaries

Norma Jo Pierce Shytles-Essin, 91, long time resident of Sherman, passed away Monday, September 21, 2015, at Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center in Sherman. Family visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24th, at Dannel Funeral Home. A private family service will be held Friday, September 25th at West Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Shytles-Essin was born April 17, 1924, in Muskogee, OK, to Earl Boyd and Ruth Clark Pierce. She was a fifth-generation Oklahoman, dating back to her Cherokee ancestors who traveled west from Geaorgia in 1836 on the 'Trail of Tears'. She graduated from Central High School in Muskogee and attended Mary Baldwin College in Stanton, VA. Norma married Dr. Harry Shytles on February 8, 1947 in Muskogee. They moved to Sherman in 1951, when Dr. Shytles opened his practice in internal medicine. They enjoyed over 50 years together before his death in 1997. Mrs. Shytles-Essin was a founder of the Sherman Service League, the WNJ Medical Auxiliary 'Pink Ladies', and the Medical Plaza 'Gray Ladies'. She served as Regional Vice-President of the Texas Medical Auxiliary from 1982-1984. She was also Past-President of Grayson County Medical Auxiliary, and was a member of Wakefield PTA, Rejebian Club and Tuesday Study Club. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sherman where she served on the Administration Board and as a Circle Leader. Mrs. Shytles-Essin married Dr. Emmett M. Essin in January of 2001. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dr. Harry Shytles, and daughter Rebecca Shytles Brown. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Emmett Essin, of Sherman; her children: Don B. Shytles and wife Dorothy, of Aransas Pass, TX, and JoAnn Shytles Anders and husband Chuck, of McKinney, TX; step-children: Emmett Essin III and wife Sallye, of Johnson City, TN, Robert (Bob) Essin and wife Dara, of Vail, CO, and Warren Essin and wife Martha, of Sherman, TX; 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorial donations to First United Methodist Church of Sherman at 401 N. Elm St. in Sherman, TX 75090, The Finley Theater at 500 N. Elm St. in Sherman, TX 75090, or to the charity of the donor's choosing.