Shirley A Gosney 84, died Tuesday, November 12, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas. She was born June 18, 1935 in to Fred and Dora (Stonebreaker) Bay.
She grew up on the family farm near Waverly, Kansas
Shirley had her first piano lesson at age 9, and by age 13 she was playing the piano at church. This began a lifelong love of music and service to the church. Later in life after moving to Newton, Kansas, Shirley played piano and organ for the Foursquare church for 30 years.
After high school, her music teacher encouraged her to apply for college scholarships. She did and was awarded enough that she was able to attend and graduate Washburn University with a teaching degree in music.
During her time in Topeka attending college, she worked a part-time job for the city. This is where she met her husband Claude, the father to her three children, Julie, Kelly, and Brian.
Her marriage to Claude saw them living in Topeka, St. Louis, and Arizona. After moving back to Kansas to be near family with the children, Shirley dusted off her teaching certificate and went to work.
Newton, Kansas would be the next stop where Shirley taught elementary music for 22 years before she retired.
Shirley had love music, reading, and crime drama shows. Family was important to Shirley and enjoyed visits with her siblings, family, and friends.
She is survived by her daughters Kelly Wilkinson of Wichita, KS and Julie McCutcheon of Shawnee, KS; 3 brothers Roy, Bill and Chuck Bay; sister Ronda Hamilton and 5 grandchildren and 1 great child.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and one son Brian Gosney
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday November 18, 2019 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Becky Girard presiding. Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery Newton.
Memorials are suggested to Harvey County Compassionate Friends in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
Shirley was an amazing, beautiful lady and the most wonderful “Mother-in-Love” anyone could ask for. She had the ability to make anyone around her feel sincerely loved. She taught me at 16 to make a pie, and now as a grandmother of three, it is still the only thing I know how to bake! 😉 Hugs, love and condolences to Julie and Kelly especially. God bless you and your family.
I met Shirley at Compassionate Friends in 2003. We both had lost sons named Brian. She would faithfully come to every meeting. Sometimes not saying much, but there for sharing her love and support.
Shirley was such a blessing in my life. I taught with her at Roosevelt School here in Newton. She and I would meet in my classroom after school to pray for our students and later Shirley opened her home to me and other women from various churches and walks of life who wanted to pray together weekly. I was a member of that group. I was so blessed by her quiet support of me as a teacher and as a fellow believer. I also attended for a time at Shirley’s church and was also blessed by her musical talent. To Julie and Kelly and the rest of Shirley’s family, I am so sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Nita