Gene Bevery Shirley, age 80, of Springfield passed away at 10:40 p.m. on Thursday, November 25, 2010 at St. John's Regional Health Center after a long illness. He was born on December 31, 1929 to Vera Johnson Shirley and James Bevery Shirley in Montgomery, Alabama. Gene graduated from Hurt Military Academy, and attended Huntington College and Duke University. Gene served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Gene and Elizabeth (Libba) Bonner Adams were married September 30, 1950 in Montgomery, Alabama. They have four children. Gene was an avid sports fan and an accomplished craftsman in woodworking, his life-long hobby. He worked in sales engineering for many years and later owned and operated a real estate company in Springfield with his wife Libba. Gene was a member of St. James Episcopal Church where he served in many capacities through the years including: Junior and Senior Wardens, Vestryman, Lay Reader and Eucharistic Minister, as well as a loyal member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. Gene is survived by his wife Libba of Springfield, MO; four children, Betsy Abel of Springfield, MO, Joe Shirley and wife Judy of Kansas City, MO, Clay Shirley and wife Ronda of Strafford, MO and Jeanne Frazier and husband John of Springfield, IL; six grandchildren, Sarah Sallie and husband Nate of Nashville, TN, Brent Chambers and wife Shannon, Springfield, MO, Joe Shirley and wife Carolina of Kansas City, MO, Laura Chambers of Springfield, MO, Bethany Graff of Nashville, TN and Rachel Graff of Springfield, MO; seven great-grandchildren, Morgyn, Jack and Lola Jane Sallie, Zion Shirley, Barrett Chambers, Carter HIll and Gavin Sipple. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 3, 2010 at St. James Episcopal Church, 2645 East Southern Hills Blvd., with the Reverend Charles Uhlik and the Reverend Ross Stuckey officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church. Our family's sincere thanks to the Missouri Veterans' Home in Mt. Vernon for their support and excellent care of Gene during his illness, as well as to the doctors and nurses at St. John's Regional Health Center
