Obituary of Shirley Louise Miller

Shirley Louise Clay Miller, 85, a former longtime Coffeyville resident, passed away Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Bonner Springs, Kansas. Shirley was born on May 28, 1936, at Coffeyville to Donald Woodrow and Virginia Lee (Ragsdale) Clay. Shirley grew up and attended school in Coffeyville graduating from Field Kindley Memorial High School in 1954. She was a member of the Tillies, Waitress Club, Twister D.E. Club, Girls Athletic Association (GAA) and Publications. She attended Coffeyville Community College and obtained her Associate of Arts in Education, she met her future husband, Bill, in the Music Appreciation Class. They were united in marriage on August 4, 1956, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Shirley’s first job was at Columbia Drug Store. She taught at Jefferson School and James School and loved teaching. She later taught at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With Bill’s career in radio, they moved often and returned to Coffeyville to raise their daughter Martha, in her hometown that was loved by all. Shirley enjoyed working at Nu-Gift and Smith’s where she sold many landscape and other paintings. She was artistically talented in every way, from oils, acrylics, needlepoint, counted cross stitch, crewel embroidery, and an amazing seamstress. She enjoyed teaching Steve Ellis’s children to swim, being a Jr. Lifeguard, playing tennis, reading, traveling and antiquing. Shirley was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and a member of Altar Guild. She was a proud member of the DAR and served on the committee of the New Beginnings Festival. Shirley was the happiest around her friends and family, she was caring, compassionate, kind and loving. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Martha Miller of the home in Olathe, Kansas, her sister, Nadine Ross of Basehor, Kansas, her cousin, Phil Colver of Aspen, Colorado, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Bill on September 12, 2020. Burial of the Dead will be at 1:30 p.m., Monday, December 20, 2021, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 613 Elm St. in Coffeyville. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville.