Shirley Jean Duncan

Shirley Jean Gulick Duncan, age 87, of Lee’s Summit Missouri passed from this earth peacefully to Glory on the 10th of November 2018. She no longer suffers from the pain and afflictions she struggled with these last few years on earth.

Shirley was born August 31, 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri. She lived in the Kansas City area her entire life and graduated from East High School. She fell in love and married Freddie Junior Duncan in September 1949 and together they raised a close-knit family of six children. She worked hard all her life raising her children in a loving and comfortable home. As her children matured, she worked in the Lee’s Summit school cafeteria and then at Truman Medical Center East in medical records and insurance billing. When she “retired”, she went to work at Quilter’s Station in Lee’s Summit. She was passionate about quilting and dedicated herself to helping others find enjoyment in it as well. Her meticulous work won several awards and Missouri State Fair blue ribbons. She enjoyed growing a variety of plants and flowers, making her home a warm and welcoming place for all family and friends. She also had a love of animals, rescuing many cats throughout the years. She had a beautiful smile and was kind to all that crossed her path.

Shirley is lovingly remembered by her surviving children, Pauletta Grantham, Dan (Darline) Duncan, Lisa (John) Tanner, Karen (John) Benckeser, Becky (Jerry) Baxter, her daughter-in-law Kay Duncan, her 19 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ezra Franklin and Pauline Gage Gulick, her loving husband Fred, her oldest son Rick, and her grandsons Donald Logan Duncan and John Joseph Benckeser, along with her brothers Jackie Lee and Ezra Franklin (Buddy) Gulick Jr.

We take comfort that as we here on earth wave farewell to our beloved mother, we know our family in heaven is waving hello, rejoicing in her arrival with open arms.  Visitation is scheduled at Park Lawn Funeral Home at 8251 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City, Missouri at noon on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Services will be held immediately following visitation at 1:00 pm. Burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Parkinson’s or dementia related disease research organizations.

Service: 1PM, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Park Lawn Funeral Home

Visitation: 12-1PM, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Park Lawn Funeral Home

Burial in Memorial Park Cemetery