Shirley Sue Delana......Age 81

VISITATION: 6-8pm, Friday, February 12, 2016.

SERVICE: 10 am, Saturday, February 13, 2016.

All at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home.

BURIAL: Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, Kansas.

MEMORIALS: Olathe Hospice House, Olathe, Kansas.

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Shirley Sue Delana age 81 of Paola, Kansas passed away peacefully on the evening of February 10, 2016.  Shirley was being comforted and visited by family members at the Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, KS at the time of her passing.

Shirley was born on January 24, 1935. She was the youngest of seven children born to Wilma Audrey “Tim” and Blanche Adlina Combs. She attended grade school, junior high and high school in or near Bethany, Missouri.  She was blessed with three children Vicki, Gene and Karen.

In 1962, Shirley started working at Midwest Cold Storage where she met the love of her life, Lawrence Delana. They married a year later in Olathe, Kansas on June 14, 1963.  Lawrence immediately assumed the role of father to Shirley’s three children.  While Lawrence gained three children, Shirley and her children were blessed by receiving a loving husband and father and his wonderful family who quickly accepted them as their own.  Along with Lawrence’s parents, she gained two brothers Elbert (Kay) and Keith (Debbie) and four sisters Doris, Joyce (Gene), Senie (Larry) and Cheri (Phil). Lawrence, Shirley and the children made their home in DeSoto, and Bonner Springs Kansas, until June of 1971, when Lawrence and Shirley decided to move to Paola, Kansas.

Shirley was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family.  Everything she made was delicious. Her family’s favorites were her biscuits, cinnamon rolls and homemade candy.  Some of her hobbies included crossword puzzles, crafting and playing cards.  She was a caring mom, not only to her own children, but she and Lawrence helped to raise many children over the years. She was a loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt, great aunt, sister and friend.  She was a strong woman with a gentle, beautiful smile.

Lawrence and Shirley celebrated an amazing life together.  They were inseparable.  They enjoyed fishing and camping with the family.  They hosted many holidays in their home with lots of laughter, great food and love.  They celebrated their 50 ^th wedding anniversary in June, 2013 surrounded by family and friends.  Lawrence’s love for Shirley was evident in everything he did to care for her up until her peaceful passing.

Shirley is survived by her loving and devoted husband Lawrence of almost 53 years, three children Vicki (Marty) Newport of Shell Knob, MO, Gene (Paula) Koger of Evergreen, CO, and Karen (Lester) Kaiser of Paola, KS.  Ten grandchildren: Tellye (Kent), Gary (Michelle), Heidi (Rob), Stephanie, Jared, David (Tina), James (Sylvia), Lisa, Laurie (Josh) and Pete (Dena). Twenty- three great grandchildren, a loving great- niece Heather, two sisters Cleda and Rosie and many other family and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents and four brothers.