Susan K. Shields

Susan K. Shields, age 68 of Paola, passed away unexpectedly in her home on Wednesday June 24, 2011 Susan was born October 14, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri to James and Mildred Keeler. She grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from Southwest High School in 1960. She worked at Midwest Research Institute where she met the love of her life, Paul Shields. They married on October 5, 1963 and were blessed with four children. She and her husband moved away from Kansas City to rural Paola 18 years ago. Although Susan worked part-time as a court reporter, and later in life as an administrative assistant, her foremost devotion was to her husband, children and their home. Susan was protective and proud of her children and grandchildren; she loved to laugh with family and friends, and was very loving and caring to all who knew her. The loss of her husband of 47 years caused Susan a tremendous amount of pain for the last fourteen months of her life. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother. Survivors are her daughter, Kristin Shields of Shawnee, KS; son Michael Shields and fianc" Amber Wilmes of Overland Park, KS; son Andy Shields of Tulsa, OK; son James and wife Kathy Shields of Blue Springs, MO; five grandchildren: Jordan, Ashley, Lauren, Grant, and Sophie; and sister, Kathleen Gray of Dallas, TX. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.