Beverly Shire

Beverly Jean Shire passed away at her home here in Independence on August 25, 2017. Beverly was born on April 4, 1931 to Ellis and Mamie Farmer in Santa Paula, California, where her parents were working at the time. Eventually she and her parents moved back to the family farm near Bolivar, Missouri, where they returned to farming. Beverly graduated from Halfway High School in 1949. Following graduation, she attended and graduated from the Cosmetology School in Jefferson City, Missouri. She became a licensed beautician and hair dresser and worked in Bolivar before moving to Springfield, Missouri, where she owned and operated her own beauty and hair salon.
Following rehabilitation from a serious automobile accident in 1971, she and her family moved to Wichita, Kansas where she began a second career as a licensed practical nurse and home health provider to the elderly. She spent more than twenty years in this occupation, providing care, services and companionship for elderly patients in their homes in Wichita, Coffeyville and Independence. She retired from this occupation in 2001.
Her first marriage to Bob Morris in Bolivar, Missouri produced a daughter, Debra (Debbie) in 1953. After this marriage ended, Beverly met and married James Padgett in Springfield, Missouri. That marriage lasted twenty years and produced a son, Donald Padgett.
In 1982, she met and subsequently married Rocky Shire of Independence, Kansas. They made their home first in Coffeyville and then in Independence, where they have resided since 1990.
Beverly was a talented musician and singer and she and her first husband traveled around central Missouri with a musical group, singing and playing for various events and groups during the 1950s. She liked and cared about everyone she knew and she was universally loved and admired by everyone and especially by the elderly people she assisted with home care and assistance. She was a member of the First Christian Church here in Independence and she was active in Christian Women's Fellowship at the church. She was also an active member of the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary for many years.
She was a devout Christian and her faith was strong. When her health prevented her from attending church regularly, she spent considerable time at home reading and studying the Bible and she enjoyed the TV ministries of Robert Schuller and Joel Osteen.
She loved traveling, entertaining, playing games and spending time with her family. She loved dogs and at the time of her passing she lived for and doted on her toy poodle, Tanzie. She was proud of her family and she was very proud of her accomplishments as a beautician as well as her Christian service and assistance to other people.
For many years, Beverly dealt with considerable pain from the injuries she sustained in the automobile accident and she had a constant battle with numerous health issues. But in spite of all these problems, she never lost her sunny disposition and her positive outlook on life. She never allowed her health problems to interfere with her enjoyment of life.
Beverly is survived by her husband Rocky Shire of the home here in Independence. She is also survived by one daughter, Debra (Morris) Conner and her husband, Larry of Bella Vista, Arkansas and one son, Donald Padgett and his wife Shana of Wichita, Kansas. She is also survived by granddaughter Kim Burbank and her husband, Tim of Conway, Arkansas and granddaughter Morgan Padgett of Wichita. Beverly had two great-grandchildren, Hayden and Garrison Burbank.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Potts Funeral Home and a private family graveside service is planned at the cemetery in Fredonia, Kansas.. The family requests no flowers, but memorial contributions in Beverly's name may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice and those may be sent or delivered to Potts Funeral Home. Those, who might wish to pay their respects to the family are invited to drop by Potts Funeral Home and sign the Memorial Registry for Beverly.

Memorial Contributions