Rosalee May (Barnhart) Shirley, 92, passed this life on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Alderbrook Village, Arkansas City, KS.
Rosalee was born to George and Ella Barnhart on August 6, 1923 in Dexter. Growing up she was well known for helping the men in the harvest fields and, along with her horse, Midge, herding cattle from the ranches to the railroad loading pens. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1941 and was Valedictorian of her class.
On July 3, 1941, Rosalee married Arnold Shirley and lived in Arkansas City until Arnold entered the Army in 1942. Rosalee spent several months in California while Arnold was participating in his military training, returning to her parents’ home in late 1943. She remained there until Arnold returned from WWII in 1945. Upon Arnold’s return to the US, they moved to Arkansas City and subsequently moved to Estancia, NM for a short time. They then returned to Kansas and lived on a farm north of Cedar Vale. When Rosalee’s father died in 1949, they moved to the Barnhart farm where they stayed until 1959. They then moved to Dexter and, in 1968, Rosalee and Arnold moved into the bright yellow house on the curve on Main Street, where she lived until 2012.
Rosalee started working for the US Postal Service in Dexter in 1952 and retired as Postmaster in 1983. Later she worked at the Dexter Care Center for several years.
Rosalee was an active participant in community affairs. She was a member of the Dexter Baptist Church, Dexter Home Demonstration Unit, Cowley County Home Demonstration Unit and she co-authored a History of Dexter in conjunction with the Kansas Centennial Celebration. For several years following her retirement she volunteered at the Dexter schools, working with many of the younger children on their reading skills and also assisting with several home economics classes. Rosalee was well known for her sewing skills, whether it be hand quilting, her baby embroidered quilts, altering prom dress or making Halloween costumes. When she moved to Alderbrook, she took her sewing machine with her and did mending for other residents.
Survivors include: Her son: Marvin and his wife Jennifer, Tulsa, OK; Her daughter: Iris Atkinson, Arkansas City, KS; Grandchildren: Shannon Boston and her husband, John, Tulsa, OK; Amie Lober, Lexington, SC; JC Atkinson and his wife, Sheryll, Arkansas City, KS; and Great Grandchildren: Circe Boston, Tulsa, OK; Kyle, Ellie Rose, Issac, Journey and AJ Lober, Lexington, SC.
In addition to her parents, Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, a brother, Milton who died as an infant and her sisters, Rachel Ward and Silver Hankins.
Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Dexter Baptist Church and interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8pm on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield, KS. The family will be present at the funeral home from 6 to 8pm.
A memorial has been established in Rosalee’s name at Gentiva Hospice serving Cowley County. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Rosalee was born to George and Ella Barnhart on August 6, 1923 in Dexter. Growing up she was well known for helping the men in the harvest fields and, along with her horse, Midge, herding cattle from the ranches to the railroad loading pens. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1941 and was Valedictorian of her class.
On July 3, 1941, Rosalee married Arnold Shirley and lived in Arkansas City until Arnold entered the Army in 1942. Rosalee spent several months in California while Arnold was participating in his military training, returning to her parents’ home in late 1943. She remained there until Arnold returned from WWII in 1945. Upon Arnold’s return to the US, they moved to Arkansas City and subsequently moved to Estancia, NM for a short time. They then returned to Kansas and lived on a farm north of Cedar Vale. When Rosalee’s father died in 1949, they moved to the Barnhart farm where they stayed until 1959. They then moved to Dexter and, in 1968, Rosalee and Arnold moved into the bright yellow house on the curve on Main Street, where she lived until 2012.
Rosalee started working for the US Postal Service in Dexter in 1952 and retired as Postmaster in 1983. Later she worked at the Dexter Care Center for several years.
Rosalee was an active participant in community affairs. She was a member of the Dexter Baptist Church, Dexter Home Demonstration Unit, Cowley County Home Demonstration Unit and she co-authored a History of Dexter in conjunction with the Kansas Centennial Celebration. For several years following her retirement she volunteered at the Dexter schools, working with many of the younger children on their reading skills and also assisting with several home economics classes. Rosalee was well known for her sewing skills, whether it be hand quilting, her baby embroidered quilts, altering prom dress or making Halloween costumes. When she moved to Alderbrook, she took her sewing machine with her and did mending for other residents.
Survivors include: Her son: Marvin and his wife Jennifer, Tulsa, OK; Her daughter: Iris Atkinson, Arkansas City, KS; Grandchildren: Shannon Boston and her husband, John, Tulsa, OK; Amie Lober, Lexington, SC; JC Atkinson and his wife, Sheryll, Arkansas City, KS; and Great Grandchildren: Circe Boston, Tulsa, OK; Kyle, Ellie Rose, Issac, Journey and AJ Lober, Lexington, SC.
In addition to her parents, Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, a brother, Milton who died as an infant and her sisters, Rachel Ward and Silver Hankins.
Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Dexter Baptist Church and interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8pm on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield, KS. The family will be present at the funeral home from 6 to 8pm.
A memorial has been established in Rosalee’s name at Gentiva Hospice serving Cowley County. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Rosalee May (Barnhart) Shirley, 92, passed this life on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Alderbrook Village, Arkansas City, KS.
Rosalee was born to George and Ella Barnhart on August 6, 1923 in Dexter. Growing up she was well known for helping the men in the harvest fields and, along with her horse, Midge, herding cattle from the ranches to the railroad loading pens. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1941 and was Valedictorian of her class.
On July 3, 1941, Rosalee married Arnold Shirley and lived in Arkansas City until Arnold entered the Army in 1942. Rosalee spent several months in California while Arnold was participating in his military training, returning to her parents’ home in late 1943. She remained there until Arnold returned from WWII in 1945. Upon Arnold’s return to the US, they moved to Arkansas City and subsequently moved to Estancia, NM for a short time. They then returned to Kansas and lived on a farm north of Cedar Vale. When Rosalee’s father died in 1949, they moved to the Barnhart farm where they stayed until 1959. They then moved to Dexter and, in 1968, Rosalee and Arnold moved into the bright yellow house on the curve on Main Street, where she lived until 2012.
Rosalee started working for the US Postal Service in Dexter in 1952 and retired as Postmaster in 1983. Later she worked at the Dexter Care Center for several years.
Rosalee was an active participant in community affairs. She was a member of the Dexter Baptist Church, Dexter Home Demonstration Unit, Cowley County Home Demonstration Unit and she co-authored a History of Dexter in conjunction with the Kansas Centennial Celebration. For several years following her retirement she volunteered at the Dexter schools, working with many of the younger children on their reading skills and also assisting with several home economics classes. Rosalee was well known for her sewing skills, whether it be hand quilting, her baby embroidered quilts, altering prom dress or making Halloween costumes. When she moved to Alderbrook, she took her sewing machine with her and did mending for other residents.
Survivors include: Her son: Marvin and his wife Jennifer, Tulsa, OK; Her daughter: Iris Atkinson, Arkansas City, KS; Grandchildren: Shannon Boston and her husband, John, Tulsa, OK; Amie Lober, Lexington, SC; JC Atkinson and his wife, Sheryll, Arkansas City, KS; and Great Grandchildren: Circe Boston, Tulsa, OK; Kyle, Ellie Rose, Issac, Journey and AJ Lober, Lexington, SC.
In addition to her parents, Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, a brother, Milton who died as an infant and her sisters, Rachel Ward and Silver Hankins.
Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Dexter Baptist Church and interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8pm on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield, KS. The family will be present at the funeral home from 6 to 8pm.
A memorial has been established in Rosalee’s name at Gentiva Hospice serving Cowley County. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Rosalee was born to George and Ella Barnhart on August 6, 1923 in Dexter. Growing up she was well known for helping the men in the harvest fields and, along with her horse, Midge, herding cattle from the ranches to the railroad loading pens. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1941 and was Valedictorian of her class.
On July 3, 1941, Rosalee married Arnold Shirley and lived in Arkansas City until Arnold entered the Army in 1942. Rosalee spent several months in California while Arnold was participating in his military training, returning to her parents’ home in late 1943. She remained there until Arnold returned from WWII in 1945. Upon Arnold’s return to the US, they moved to Arkansas City and subsequently moved to Estancia, NM for a short time. They then returned to Kansas and lived on a farm north of Cedar Vale. When Rosalee’s father died in 1949, they moved to the Barnhart farm where they stayed until 1959. They then moved to Dexter and, in 1968, Rosalee and Arnold moved into the bright yellow house on the curve on Main Street, where she lived until 2012.
Rosalee started working for the US Postal Service in Dexter in 1952 and retired as Postmaster in 1983. Later she worked at the Dexter Care Center for several years.
Rosalee was an active participant in community affairs. She was a member of the Dexter Baptist Church, Dexter Home Demonstration Unit, Cowley County Home Demonstration Unit and she co-authored a History of Dexter in conjunction with the Kansas Centennial Celebration. For several years following her retirement she volunteered at the Dexter schools, working with many of the younger children on their reading skills and also assisting with several home economics classes. Rosalee was well known for her sewing skills, whether it be hand quilting, her baby embroidered quilts, altering prom dress or making Halloween costumes. When she moved to Alderbrook, she took her sewing machine with her and did mending for other residents.
Survivors include: Her son: Marvin and his wife Jennifer, Tulsa, OK; Her daughter: Iris Atkinson, Arkansas City, KS; Grandchildren: Shannon Boston and her husband, John, Tulsa, OK; Amie Lober, Lexington, SC; JC Atkinson and his wife, Sheryll, Arkansas City, KS; and Great Grandchildren: Circe Boston, Tulsa, OK; Kyle, Ellie Rose, Issac, Journey and AJ Lober, Lexington, SC.
In addition to her parents, Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, a brother, Milton who died as an infant and her sisters, Rachel Ward and Silver Hankins.
Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Dexter Baptist Church and interment will follow at the Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8pm on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield, KS. The family will be present at the funeral home from 6 to 8pm.
A memorial has been established in Rosalee’s name at Gentiva Hospice serving Cowley County. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
