Shirley Jean (Johnson) Williams, 75, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2009, due to complications from surgery. Shirley was born March 16, 1933, in her grandparent's home in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, the only child of Harold Mason and Alice Virginia (Sumner) Johnson. Her early years were spent on her parent's dairy farm in Pleasant Hill. The family home was often referred to as "the house on Happy Hill." Shortly before Shirley turned four, her father died at the age of 29. Three years later her mother married Charles Herbert Jester and the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, in pursuit of job opportunities. Shirley spent the World War II years in Detroit, fascinated by the ethnic diversity of her neighborhood and the war efforts of the city. After the war, the family returned to Pleasant Hill, Missouri, where they owned and operated Jester's Department Store. Shirley attended Pleasant Hill High School, where she played basketball, was crowned football queen and participated in theatrical productions, graduating in 1950. She then moved to Springfield to attend Drury College, joining Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1954. On June 15, 1952, Shirley married David James Williams, son of Dr. and Mrs. John Wood Williams Jr. of Springfield. Shirley taught at Delaware and Hickory Hills elementary schools before resigning to raise her family. In 1974, she and friends, Evelyn H'Doubler, Marie Prater and Nancy Chalfant, opened Chanticleer, Inc., an antiques and gift shop with which she was involved for nearly 20 years. Throughout the years, Shirley was an active member of the Springfield community. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Camp Fire Leader, and member of PEO. She belonged to the Museum of the Ozarks Guild, the Springfield Regional Opera Guild and the Drury Women's Auxiliary. She raised funds for KOZK Public Television, volunteered at the Easter Seals School, and served on the Board of the Easter Seals Homecraft Shop. Additionally, Shirley served on the Drury Women's Advisory Board, the Springfield Historic Sights Board, and the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation Board. She was a member of the Junior League of Springfield, where she chaired numerous fundraisers and service committees, and helped establish the Public Schools Clothing Bank, which later became Crosslines. Shirley was a faithful member of Christ Episcopal Church, where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, was Director of Christian Education and helped establish the church gift shop. Shirley was preceded in death by her father, Harold; mother, Virginia; step-father, Herbert; and husband, David. She is survived by her four children and their families, Randy Williams and wife, Sarah of Fairport, N.Y. and their children, Elizabeth (Williams) Chervenak, David Williams and Joshua Williams; Keith Williams and wife, Susan of Springfield, Mo. and their children, Amy Williams, Doug WIlliams, Brandon Barns and Michael Barns; Carol Whitaker of Tulsa, Okla. and her daughter, Cathleen Whitaker; and Ellen Wilson and her husband, David of Springfield. She is also survived by her brother, Charles Jester and wife, Sandy of Chesterfield, Mo.; brother-in-law, John W. Williams III and wife, Mary of Springfield; sister-in-law Susan Williams of Shawnee Mission, Kan.; and many nieces, nephews and loving friends. Shirley was much loved and will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Visitation will be Monday, February 2, 2009, from 4 to 6 p.m., in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held in Christ Episcopal Church, Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at 3 p.m., with interment immediately following in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to Drury University's Endowment Fund, the Ozarks Genealogical Society, or Christ Episcopal Church.