Mary Ann Shirley, 90, of Vermillion, KS, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2020 at the Frankfort Community Care Home in Frankfort, KS.  Her loving husband, Loyal, and her children were with her at her bedside.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home in Axtell.

Out of concern for the safety of family and friends, private services for immediate family will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday at the Axtell United Methodist Church.  When a public gathering is deemed to be safe, hopefully in the spring, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled so that her many friends and family can join together in fellowship to acknowledge appreciation and love for the life of Mary Ann.

Mary Ann was born on the family farm in Burchard, Nebraska on May 6, 1930. She lived on the farm with her parents Raymond and Rosie McClarnen and sisters Gladys and Joyce. She graduated from Barneston High School and attended Peru State College where she received a teaching certificate, and then taught at a one room country schoolhouse from 1948 to 1950.

She married Loyal Shirley on May 13, 1950, a union that lasted for over 70 years. They lived together on the farm where she managed and lovingly nurtured a growing family and bustling household. She enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, cooking and spending time with friends and family. She was a fabulous cook and was especially famous for her homemade noodles and delicious pies. She was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children and in later years applied those same skills to making doll clothes for her grandchildren.

As time passed, she loved being with her growing family and regularly hosted family celebrations that were eagerly anticipated and attended by her immediate and extended brood. One of her major joys was attending as many of her grandchildren’s’ activities as she possibly could, and this was a high priority for her up until the end of her life.

She was an active member of the Axtell United Methodist Church and participated in many UMW and other church activities.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Loyal E. Shirley, Vermillion; two sisters, Gladys York and Joyce Schulteis, both of Beatrice, NE; children, Linda (Jim) Briden, Topeka, KS, Vickie (Mick) Lowe, Lawrence, KS, Dale (Carissa) Shirley, Vermillion, KS, and Janet (Lyle) Haug, Harrisonville, MO; thirteen grandchildren, Amy Adams, Ryan Stueve, Josh Stueve, Jamie Feldmeyer, Katie Varner, Abra Shirley, Brodric Shirley, Kacia Shirley, Holland Shirley, Job Shirley, Kevin Haug, Derek Haug and Mitchell Haug; seven great-grandchildren, Sam, Charlie, Lucy, McCauley, Blaise, Braden and Forest.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Axtell United Methodist Church or Frankfort Community Care Home.  Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home.