Thelma Jo "Sis" (Wren) Renshaw

Thelma Jo “Sis” Renshaw – doting mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, supportive wife, loving sister, and faithful servant – passed away on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Decatur Texas. She was 97.

Sis’s natural radiance and boundless love for others, as well as her generous heart and easy laugh, will be greatly missed by her family, friends and many in the community who knew and loved her and Sam, her husband of 71 years.

Sis was born on April 18, 1926 in Rhome, Texas to Opal and Joe Wren. She and her older brother, Ralph, and younger sister, Beverly, grew up in a close, loving home where they would pray and read the Bible together every night after dinner. Sis always had lots of good friends with whom she would, among other things, ride around town after church or attend dances at the USO canteen in Fort Worth.

After graduating from Rhome High School at 16, Sis began attending Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth, where she received a bachelor’s degree in business. It was at TWC that she began dating the love of her life, Samuel W. Renshaw, Jr. The two soon became inseparable and were married on April 2, 1947 at the First Methodist Church in Decatur.

Sis was a loving mother to her three children - Donna, Becky and Bo - and devoted wife to Sam, who served as the City Secretary of Decatur for 34 years. Her greatest joy was her family, and she created a wonderful home full of kindness, patience, and lots of delicious baked goods. An exceptional aunt to many nieces and nephews, Aunt Sis loved to sit and talk with them whenever they stopped by her house on Stratton Street, impromptu visits that continued up until her recent hospital stay. No family gathering was complete without her nearly World Famous pound cake, which many have attempted but none has ever duplicated.

A member of First UMC in Decatur for 80 years, Sis taught Sunday School and was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Women. She also served on the visitation and care teams. Sis was the first woman chair of the Church Council, a testament to her level-headedness and faithful approach to all decisions. Rare was the occasion that Sis wasn’t in the Fellowship Hall kitchen helping with UMW events, funerals or covered-dish suppers.

In addition to the countless hour’s she spent doing so much for others at First Methodist, Sis was a member of the “Pink Ladies,” who volunteered at the Decatur hospital to serve staff, families and patients. She also volunteered with the Wise County Olympathon, Butch Clark Summer Camp, and the Wise County Transition Center.

After his retirement, Sam and Sis went on road trips all across the United States - they once even drove to Nova Scotia with Sam always at the wheel. When they weren’t traveling, they much enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and many, many friends.

Sis loved “Gone with the Wind,” “The Sound of Music,” the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, phone calls with her sister, having her hair done by Patti, Christmas Eve gatherings with her extended families, reading, sending cards, and any kind of dessert, preferably something chocolate.

Sis was preceded in death by her husband, Sam, and son-in-law George Harrison.

She is survived by her three children - daughters Donna Harrison of Dallas and Becky Lyles of Decatur, and son, Samuel W. “Bo” Renshaw III and wife, Kay, of Richardson; grandchildren Kristy Ivy and husband, Cory, of Southlake; Lori Caufield and husband Chuck of Prosper; Elizabeth Feldman and husband Nate of Fort Worth; Megan Ransom and husband Russell of Georgetown; and seven great-grandchildren - Jace, Cade, Brayden, Jett, Avery, Brexton and Levi. She is also survived by her sister, Beverly Shults of Dallas.

A Funeral Service celebrating Sis’s life is set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 13 at First United Methodist Church in Decatur. A Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church in Decatur and the Wise County Heritage Society.