Shelby Brooke Junot, 27 years young, of Hays County, Texas, made her journey home to Heaven on August 10, 2020. Shelby, the beautiful daughter of Lisa Passell and James Junot, lit up the world with her radiant presence on August 7, 1993, in Austin, Texas.
Shelby graduated from Jack C. Hays High School and acquired her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Texas State University. Shelby immediately started her career as an elementary teacher in Bastrop, Texas. Through her dedication and love for teaching she was recognized as “Teacher of Year” at her school. Shelby currently was a teacher for students with special needs in the Dripping Springs ISD.
Shelby was a loving, compassionate, young woman who captivated everyone she encountered with her joyful soul. Her big brown eyes, bright smile, wit, and infectious laughter, enchanted her audience of family, friends, students, and strangers.
Shelby had a heart for everyone!
She loved her students and shared many stories that painted the picture of a shepherd gathering her lambs with love, encouragement, and laughter. She had a heart for Haiti that was as big as Texas – She left her mark and gave a piece of herself to every child in the orphanages. Her love for children was borderless.
Shelby was a living testament of the Bible verse, Proverbs 31:26, “She speaks with wisdom and kind teaching pours from her lips.”
For Shelby, life was an adventure and she LOVED an adventure. From jumping on a horse wearing daisy dukes, to being an all-around performer by singing at the top of her lungs to dancing outside in the rain. Watching her interact, share a story, sing, dance, or holding someone, always taught us something; to love unconditionally, to live in the moment, and to remember to laugh throughout the highs and lows. “Unforgiveness” was not in her repertoire.
If you knew Shelby, you knew you were special. The relationship she had with her brother, Zach and sisters, Karlie, and Bailey, is one that always warmed her parent’s hearts. Their unbreakable bond was extraordinary and full of forgiveness and fun. Zach describes his beloved sister as passionate and full of life with unwavering love for family and friends. Karlie says that the best part about having Shelby as a sister is that they were always built-in best friends. Bailey boasts that Shelby was fun-loving and could always put a smile on her face, even in a sisterly argument.
Shelby knew how to love, she loved well, and was well loved.
Let it be comforting to you, Shelby was seeking the Lord; she had a hunger and thirst to know him more and she has been called home to join her Pepa, Brigadier General (Ret.) Arthur Joseph Junot and step-brother Joseph James Passell.
Shelby is survived by her mother, Lisa Anne Passell and husband Jeff; her father James Junot and Robin Whittaker Hayes; brother, Zachary Taylor Junot and Kelsey Poynor and nephew Carter Blaze; sister, Karlie Anne Junot and fiancé Miles Robison Mock; and sister Bailey Skye Junot and Justin Klaus; grandparents Donald and Ann Young of New Braunfels, Texas; grandmother Clara Ann Junot of Killeen, Texas; grandparents Geri and Joe Gambino of Cedar Creek, Texas; and numerous step-siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her fur baby, Bucklee Dean.
In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to: For His Glory Outreach Orphanage: Maison des Enfants de Dieu. www.fhghaiti.org.
