Brenda G. Machen
Brenda G. Machen
April 6, 1947 ~ May 16, 2023
With her loving husband Mick by her side, Brenda Gail Shaw (Shaffer) Machen passed away peacefully at home in Taft, Texas on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to live eternal life with her Savior.
Brenda was born April 6, 1947 in Lawrenceburg, TN to Lawrence Virgil Shaw and Edna Earle Beard Shaw. Eight years after her father passed unexpectedly in a boating accident, her mother Edna married John Solon Roberts and they made a family with Brenda and her sister Connie. They were all active members of Coleman Memorial United Methodist Church where she began her Christian walk of faith. She graduated from Lawrence County High School in 1965, then completed 2 years of college at Martin Jr. College in Pulaski, TN. She married her high school sweetheart, Franklin D. Shaffer, in 1967 before transferring to Middle Tennessee State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1969. They moved to Franklin, TX and had two sons, Perry and Brian, before settling in Corpus Christi. There they welcomed daughter Amanda. Though their marriage ended in divorce, it was in Corpus where Brenda met Mickey J. Machen. They blended their families and were married in 1980. Afterwards, they added son Joshua Shaw Machen. Brenda completed her master’s degree program in Early Education at Corpus Christ State University and become a 3rd grade teacher at Tuloso-Midway ISD. She went on to educate and influence her “kids,” as she always called them, for 25 years.
Brenda is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 43 years: Mickey Joe Machen, whom she affectionately called “my Mickey Joe”; her children: Perry Shaffer (Wendy) of College Station, TX, Brian Shaffer (Kendra) of Summertown, TN, Amanda Elledge (Andy) of Florence, AL, Joshua Machen (Tiffany) of Corpus Christi, TX, Tricia Machen DFW, TX and Trevor Machen (Jennifer) DFW, TX; fifteen grandchildren: Presley Gobbell, Madison Shaffer, Allison Shaffer, Haley Lawhon, Jackson and Braxton Elledge, Jon Franklin Gobbell, Chloe Nash (Austin), Colton Shaffer, Jozie Shaffer, Abbie Joe Shaffer, Aubree Machen, Elijah Shaffer, Jolee Machen, and Destin Machen; great grandchildren: Grayson Stewart, and anticipating Weston Oliver Nash on June 29th; sister: Connie Hixson (Larry) of Chattanooga, TN; nieces, nephews and her dear friends.
A private family burial will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Shaw Cemetery on Wesley Chapel Road, Lawrenceburg, TN. Following the burial, her family invites friends and loved ones to join them at The Lakes Venue, 761 Prosser Road, Lawrenceburg, TN from 3:00-5:00 p.m. (come and go) as we celebrate her life well lived! In lieu of flowers, you may donate in Brenda’s name to: Shaw Cemetery Fund, Attn: Dwight Shaw, 1220 E. Gaines St. Lawrenceburg, TN 38464.
