Leadership Women mourns the loss of Leadership Texas 2013 graduate, Missy Shorey, who passed away very suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 47. The first woman elected to lead the Dallas County Republican Party, Missy was a fierce voice for woman in politics.
Born in Alabama, Melissa Ryerson Shorey attended the University of Florida, where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Government. She received her MBA from the American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, DC. Missy dove right into politics during her college years, serving as a legal and finance intern for the Republican National Committee and would become a communications specialist for the US Senate Republican Conference in 1997. She started her own company, Shorey Public Relations, in 2004.
A huge advocate for conservative candidates, Missy also served as the Executive Director of Maggie’s List, a federal political action committee aimed at getting more women into Congress. Sandra B. Mortham, Maggie’s List national chairwoman said Shorey was a “great spirit, a fierce advocate and lover of life.”
Whether Republican or Democrat, Missy Shorey knew the importance of dialogue and debate to grow as an individual. A panelist for “Women & Changing the Conversation” during the Leadership Women National Conference in 2017, Missy said, “when we all ask each other to hang out and have the conversation….asking ‘what’s it like in your world’…that’s essential.”
“Like everyone, I am shocked by Missy Shorey’s untimely death,” Dallas County Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Donovan said in a written statement. “Missy and I did not always agree, but we respected each other, and we worked together to mediate candidate disputes and to keep things running smoothly.”
A moment of silence was recognized in the Texas House and Senate on Wednesday in honor of Missy.
Texas Congressman Lance Gooden of Terrell said, of Shorey, “she was a prominent and distinguished voice for activists, voters and the citizens of Dallas County.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a Facebook post that Shorey was a “courageous leader in our party and an inspiration to many.” The Texas Tribune called Missy a “trailblazer.”
The Dallas County GOP issued a statement saying, “She was a tireless champion for the Party, its candidates, and mission. Missy had an infectious spirit that inspired many.”
For Leadership Women and her Leadership Texas 2013 classmates, Missy was a passionate and loyal friend, who will be dearly missed.
Missy is survived by her husband Lt. Col. Marc Himelhoch, a retired pilot with the United States Air Force, currently flying for Southwest Airlines.
Dallas Memorial Services are still pending. A memorial service will be held May 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Burnt Hills, N.Y.
More on Missy’s life and legacy can be found in an article on the Dallas Morning News site.