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LEO DALE SHIRLEY

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Graveside service: 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, Faucett Cemetery, Faucett, Mo., with military honors. A gathering and potluck will follow at the Lions Club, 617 Grand DD SE, Faucett.

Cremation rites were accorded by Midwest Cremation, Springfield, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Leo Dale Shirley, 71, of Buffalo, Mo., died Dec. 12, 2018.
He wore many hats: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, Chicago Northwestern/Union Pacific conductor, friend and Marine.

He kept with his giving spirit. He was on the Midwest donation registry to help save others who could benefit from his human shell. Like any man or woman giving their lives in service for their country and family, he continued to serve.

He will be missed for his way of being able to strike up conversations with random strangers and topics, different jokes and stories (even if you heard it time and time again).

He was an avid reader and had an eye for scenic photography, especially on the railway.

He was married to Judy (Walker) Shirley for 45 years, and to this union were born their daughter, La Homa (Homie Shirley) Simmonds, and son, John Dale Shirley. Their daughter ran off and joined the Navy and found a "Northerner" in her seabag, Ian Simmonds. These two sailors had two boys, Jordan Tyler and Kaine Allen Simmonds. Jordan made Leo a great-grandfather by having a daughter, Aurora Marie. Kaine is betrothed to Etana Thompson. Leo and Judy’s son gave them a daughter-in-law, Gena (Kirk) Shirley, six years ago and a grand four-legged furbaby named Sammie, as well as a reason to go on adventure vacations to the East.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, John Harvey and Tena (Graves) Shirley; brother-in-law and surrogate father, Ken Dugan; sister, Margret; and many other closely related, unrelated and four-legged souls that walked, talked, guided, understood, sometimes tolerated but loved him.
Survivors also include his sister and surrogate mom, Sally (Graves) Dugan; nieces: Lori and Deb; and many other friends, loved ones and comrades. During this holiday season — whatever you may believe — John and Homie believe that St. Nick stole him because he needs more old people as supervisors to boss around the elves and tell jokes.


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