Shirley Kay Mackes

Shirley Kay Richard (Mackes) was born May 25,1940 to Gerald and Delores Richard in Holton, Kansas. The angels came for her on the 27th of January 2025 at about 7:35 in the morning as the sun was beginning to rise over the wonderful endless grasslands of Kansas. She will remain in her eternal resting place when the passing of her husband Bill takes place. At that time, their ashes shall be combined (with their wedding rings of fifty (50) years (already in place with her) where they will rest together for eternity in the Hillcrest Cemetery, in the mausoleum, number 82, located in Derby, Kansas. Shirley passed away from natural causes and from, I believe, three serious and doubtful unrecoverable recent surgeries for her years.

Shirley was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her time on earth was marked by love, compassion, and belief and faith in God. She confided in God by prayer and the faith she believed he had in his power. Shirley’s prayers and tears were always for others. She never asked for special treatment for herself. She will be missed; many of us already feel the emptiness and void in our lives without her. Shirley lived a moral, ethical life and left a profound impact on the lives of those she enriched with her presence and caring heart.

Shirley had a high personal standard. She maintained herself impeccably well. Her standard for her home was second to none. She believed in order and cleanliness. She once told me our interior walls needed painting. I inspected the walls and told her the walls were just fine. I asked: “why are we painting the walls”? She answered with determination, conviction, and a stern commanding voice: “because I said so”. She was not scared to be in charge when she knew she was right—and she was right; they needed paint.

Shirley is survived by her husband Bill of fifty years (knowing each other almost one week short of fifty-three years, her sons Tom and Jim, daughters Teresa and Kathy, sister Kathy, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many cousins.

Shirley's ethics were never in question. She worked her whole life, beginning in her teenage years (later sometimes working two jobs to support her children at a time when she was a single mom). Shirley worked until she fell victim to Fibromyalgia. She was placed on medical leave by USD260 and the state.

Early in her career, Shirley went on to work in the relatively new field of keypunch operator for Drew Chemical in New Jersey. She later returned home to Kansas in the very early 1970s where she entered computer work. Her computer experience and ability to adapt to technology and changing times placed her in the sole position of maintaining student records for the entire USD260 at the time--she maintained student grade cards, bus routes, and student addresses. She completed her career (somewhat short lived) against her will but was forced to leave her work from the debilitating effects of Fibromyalgia.

Shirley will be remembered for her seemingly soft smile and overwhelming laughter, her faith in God that led her to spreading love and kindness to everyone she encountered.

Shirley left behind a gift to all of us. This gift is that we should all learn to show unconditional love, compassion, and kindness to those who enter our lives.

Shirley’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, but her spirit and her memory are surely a blessing to those of us she left in charge of these personable attributes--ones that she held in such high esteem. May we boldly carry on these fine attributes of unconditional love, compassion, and kindness to all who come into our lives.

On this, the beginning of the fifth (January 31) full day of her passing the emptiness in my heart is beginning (beginning) to be replaced with an ember that I know will grow into an eternal large glow to forever fill my heart and replace the emptiness and pain I bear until I am with her in God’s eternal grace. I pray others who knew Shirley will find the same comfort as I.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM, February the 4th, 2025 in the Smith Mortuary in Derby, KS.

With all my love to you Shirley. Bill