Shirley J. Wilson

On June 19, 1937, Shirley Jean Cummings was born the youngest of seven children to Everett H. and Marguerite I. (Barry) Cummings in Doniphan County, Kansas. When Shirley was a young girl the family moved to Garnett, Kansas where Shirley then attended elementary school at Holy Angels Grade school where she eventually became the left handed point guard for the girls' basketball team, something she loved to share with her family through the years. She had many great memories of her time there and the lifelong friends she made.

Shirley attended high school with the class of 1955 at Garnett High School where she met Claron Benjamin whom she later married. To this union was born four children. Shirley and Claron were married 14 years.

Shirley studied to get her CNA license and worked at the Anderson County Hospital as well as McLeod's Nursing Home. Shirley's children were very important to her and she is remembered as being an avid reader, a campfire girl leader, cub scout leader as well as a Sunday School teacher when the kids were young.

Shirley met and then married William R Hurley, Jr. and they had many years together raising dogs, having camp outs with the grandkids as well as teaching them how to ride horses and fish until his untimely death.

Some other interests included camping and writing poetry. Gardening was another love of hers and the grandkids will remember how she would name her flowers after each of her grandchildren. Shirley worked for some time at HD Lee Manufacturing in Ottawa as well as 20 years at King Radio in Paola where she learned the skill of soldering. She would repair VCR's for friends and family in her home until VCR's became obsolete.

In her later years she married Kenneth Wilson and together they owned/operated Ken's Appliance Center in Garnett and Iola. Ken preceded her in death.
Shirley was the last living child of Everett and Marguerite Cummings.
Shirley went to be with her mother as well as other loved ones on Mother's Day, May 8th, 2022.

Preceding her in death were her parents; siblings, Everett Cummings, Patricia (Cummings) Turner, Robert Cummings, Donald Cummings, Eileen (Cummings) Davis, and Maurice Cummings.

Survivors are her children, Daniel (Linda) Benjamin, Stephen (Donna) Benjamin, Sandra (Leroy) Hamilton, and Dennis (Megan) Benjamin; grandchildren: Christopher (Shannon) Benjamin, Sariah (Brian) Judy, Holly (Ryan) Dickinson, Kaci (Mike) Ashurst, Laurel (Evan) Ladewig, Jamie Stevens, Wesley (Cathy) Stevens, Ashley (Joe) Sample, Sebastian Benjamin and 19 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett, with burial following in the Holy Angels Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose School.

You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .