Shirley Ann Rowell, 84, died March 14, 2021 at Life Care center in Andover, Kansas. She was born August 6, 1936, in Mt. Vernon, Ill., to Lawrence V and Ila Mae (Whitlock) Hughes.
Shirley was a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Sedgwick and a member of the Sedgwick Senior Center where she was instrumental in establishing the foot clinic at the center. She also was a member of the Red Hat Organization. She loved young children and greatly enjoyed her time with her children and grandchildren. She taught 2nd grade Sunday School at First Baptist Church in Knob Noster, Missouri for many years. She spent most of her working career in Missouri public schools food service.
She could often be found outside working in her garden. She collected birdhouses and watching her favorite birds including Cardinals, Hummingbirds and Butterflies.
Shirley is survived by children Marinda Kaye Rowell Francis (Kevin), Lawrence Jefferson Rowell, Gary Waine Rowell and Stephanie Rowell Alderson-Littlejohn (Rick); nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters Nancy Ham (Richard) and Linda Trowbridge; and a bundle of nieces and nephews she loved and cherished very much.
She was preceded in death her parents Lawrence Vernon (Cookie) Hughes and Ila Mae (Whitlock) Hughes, sister Donna Ford Schuchmann and son-in-law Joel Bruce Alderson.
Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Sedgwick with the Rev. Craig Reynolds presiding. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 22, at Union Chapel Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Sedgwick Lillian Tear Library or Good Shepherd Hospice in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main Newton, Kan., 67114.
