Shirley Grissinger

Shirley Rae (Chrisman) Grissinger,

Beloved Mother, Mimi, and Family Matriarch.  Shirley was born November 16th, 1933 in St. Joseph, Missouri to Charles and Virginia Chrisman.  During her childhood in St. Joseph, Shirley was often seen with her younger brother Larry at the local movie theatre.  Shirley attended Central High School and in 1951, Shirley married Oakey Grissinger.  The couple remained in St. Joseph raising their daughters, Marla and Susan, until Oak’s job transferred them to across the country.  Shirley refused to define herself as a “Home Maker” and volunteered at local political campaigns, gave time to the local Meals On Wheels and taught her grandchildren to play Blackjack at the breakfast table.  Throughout life, Shirley was a vicarious reader and an avid fan of crossword puzzles.  Her home was decorated in blue, earning her the nickname of “The Blue Lady”.  Tragedy struck in 1985, when Shirley’s husband of thirty-five years passed away.  Out of the ashes of heartbreak, a new love blossomed when Shirley met her long-term companion Bill Jacoby.  They spent the next two decades traveling the country in their motorhome, visiting friends and family, and spending the winter months in their new home of Mission, Texas.  After the passing of Bill in 2013, Shirley relocated back to the Kansas City area, spending the twilight of her years with her daughter Marla and her grandchildren.  Shirley passed on February 15, 2020 after a long bout of illness, she fought hard till the end, living and leaving life on her own terms.  Shirley left behind a legacy of two daughters, Marla Hunter-Copple (Steve Copple) and Susan Grissinger, four grandchildren, Jeremy and Shannon Hunter and Jennifer and Phil Allumbaugh, and three great grandchildren, Hailey Johnson, Madelynn Hunter, and Hunter Allumbaugh.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be placed to either St. Luke's Hospice House or The American Heart Association.