Shirley Jeanette Elder

Shirley Jeanette Elder, age 74, passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.

Family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the funeral home.

Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa.

Shirley was born on July 9, 1948, in Liberal, Kansas, the daughter of George and Alice (Anderson) Franks.

She was a lifelong Franklin County resident, moving to Ottawa in the mid-1960s.

Shirley graduated from Pomona High School with the class of 1967.

She was united in marriage to Richard Elder November 2, 1968, in Ottawa. He survives of the home.

Shirley was a waitress for Lee’s Downtowner Café in the 1960s, a seamstress for H.D. Lee in the late 1960s to early 1970s and an inspector for King Radio in the late 1970s to early 2000s, all located in Ottawa. She also worked for Systems Material Handling in Olathe in the early 2000s to her retirement in 2015.

She was preceded in death by her parents and infant brother, Larry Franks.

Survivors include her husband Richard, children, Tammy Rome (Brian) of Tucson, Arizona, Vance Elder of Ottawa, Karen Peel of Lenexa and Jimi Elder of Ottawa; sisters, Peggy Sumner (Melvin) of Ottawa, Margaret Nicholson (Gary) of Ottawa, Stella Heuer (David) of Melvern, Mary Humerickhouse (Randy) of Olathe; brothers, George R. Franks (Libbie) of Ottawa, Virgil Franks of Melvern; grandchildren, Kelsey, Jennifer, Kyler, Andrew, Justyn, McKenzie, Malakai, Hailey, Cadence, and Cody; great grandchildren, Serenity, Roan and Tovi.

Shirley enjoyed working on puzzles, baking and crossword puzzles. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to KU Endowment, Sepsis Research c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067.