Shirley Edmonds

Shirley Alice Connell Edmonds (April 21, 1943-January 1, 2022)

Shirley Alice Edmonds of Conway, AR, age 78, passed away January 1, 2022.

She was born April 21, 1943, in Conway, Arkansas, the third child of Iris Parsons Connell and M. E. Connell. She graduated from Conway High School and earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Spanish and Library Science.

Shirley married Loren Duane Edmonds on June 3rd, 1967. They completed their graduate degrees together and worked as teachers and librarians at several schools and colleges in Texas and Kansas before settling in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1984. Shirley and Loren raised two daughters, Lisa Edmonds D’Amico and Susan Michelle Edmonds. Loren passed away September 13, 1997, in Hutchinson, and Shirley continued to raise and support her daughters throughout their high school and college years. Shirley retired from teaching in 1999. After retirement, Shirley returned to her hometown of Conway, Arkansas to live near her mother and siblings.

Shirley took great pleasure in gardening and designing improvements to her home. She loved playing with her grandchildren and watching Agatha Christie and Jane Austen shows with her daughters. A devout lifelong Christian, she enjoyed attending church and Bible study classes. She was also an extremely talented artist, using watercolors, ink, and charcoal to create beautiful drawings of landscapes and people.

Shirley is survived by two daughters, Lisa and Michelle; two sons-in-law, Bill D’Amico and Joshua Herrin; two grandchildren, Madden and Lexi Herrin; two sisters, Sandra Connell McGraw of Harrison and Sarah Connell Campbell of Conway; and her brother Victor Connell and sister-in-law Elaine Connell of Vilonia. Her brother Michael Connell preceded her in death.

Shirley’s Celebration of Life and funeral service will take place at 1 pm on Friday, January 7, 2022, at Griffin Leggett Conway Funeral Home, 1751 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, Arkansas. Visitation will take place from noon to 1 pm. A graveside service will follow that afternoon at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, next to Naylor United Methodist Church, in Vilonia. All friends and family are welcome to attend and share their memories of Shirley’s life.

In lieu of flowers, Lisa and Michelle request donations be made in Shirley’s memory to the American Cancer Society or another cancer-related nonprofit organization.