Sheila Morton Caldwell

Sheila Florence Morton Caldwell of Plano, Texas, was taken too soon to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at the age of 74. Three weeks earlier she was involved in a car accident and suffered major injuries. During her time in the hospital, she was rehabilitating extremely well, spreading her joy of life to the people around her and was enthusiastic about her future. While recovering, she succumbed unexpectedly to her injuries.

She was born in Petersburg, Virginia and spent her childhood years in Arlington and Norfolk, Virginia, as well as Bristol, Tennessee.  Her family included her father who was a Navy pilot, her mother who was a high school teacher, and her older sister.  During childhood she was a good, wholesome kid who loved to be active, ride her horse, and was a leader and excelled in school. She graduated from Bristol Tennessee High School in 1964.  After high school, she went to University of North Carolina at Greensboro then transferred to University of Tennessee, Knoxville and graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics.

Soon after her graduation she moved to Dallas, Texas to start a career with Sanger-Harris corporation as a buyer. At one time she was the youngest manager of a major department store in the Dallas area.

In 1970, she married Ford Caldwell, whom she met in high school and together they had two children.  Her son, Brett Morton Caldwell was born in 1976 and her daughter, Christie Michelle Caldwell was born in 1980. She had an unconditional love for her children and raised them in Plano, Texas.  Being a mother was her cherished role in life.

Family was one of her most important parts of her life. Some of her favorite things to do included road trips to Florida and Tennessee to visit extended family, attending and cheering at her children’s sporting events and enjoying holidays surrounded by loved ones.

She was a woman of strong faith.  She regularly attended church services and Sunday school as they were important to her. She was a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Her hobbies and interests included national and international travel, playing bridge with many friends, competitive tennis, extensive reading, home gardening, studies of international art and absolutely loved doing puzzles.  Later in life she was a professional dog groomer and an owner of many beloved dogs, including her new puppy Bella.

She is survived by her two children, Christie Michelle Caldwell, of Plano, Texas, Brett Morton Caldwell and his wife Carolina of Atlanta, Georgia and step granddaughter Nathalie Kroll of Plano, Texas.  She is also survived by her sister Phyllis Morton Ryan and her husband Michael Patrick Ryan, Jr. retired in Millington, Maryland formerly of Mexico City, Mexico and her dear cousin George Phillips, Jr. of Plano, Texas.  Her parents, Wilbur Young Morton and Ruth Phillips Morton of Cocoa Beach, Florida preceded her in death.

She will be greatly remembered by her family and friends as a special person of great strength and loving care of others.  She demonstrated this great strength and character overcoming the challenge of type 1 diabetes for 44 years.  The family would request in lieu of flowers, donations in her honor to the Juvenile (Type 1) Diabetes Research Foundation .

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 9:00-10:00 am at Prestonwood Baptist Church Faith Chapel in Plano, Texas. There will be a funeral service to celebrate Sheila’s life following at 10:00 am in the chapel.

Those who cannot attend may watch the Live Stream webcast or the recorded version later at the link below: (Check back soon for the link)

Sheila will be laid to rest at a private burial at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, VA