Shirley A. Moore

Shirley Ann (Hammond) Moore of Lee’s Summit, Missouri passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025 with family at her side. She was 89 years old. Shirley was to married Kenneth Moore for 67 years, passing just one day following their anniversary date.

Shirley was born on August 31, 1935, in Harris, Missouri to Elbert and Nelle (Griffith) Hammond. She was the youngest of five, joining four older half-siblings — Ardith (Bessie Glea) Hammond, Lorene (Ellis) Wilcox, Arlene Clark (Glen), and Cleon (Kathryn). These siblings were all married, some with children, when Shirley was born.

Shirley graduated from Princeton High School in 1953. It was never a question of if she would attend college, but where. She graduated from Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri with a degree in Music Education in 1956. That same year she married Kenneth, began teaching elementary music in Princeton and worked morning and night with Kenneth milking cows on their dairy farm. It was during this time that she and Kenneth welcomed two daughters, Linda and Lora.

In 1962, the family moved to Maysville where they continued to dairy. Shirley taught music at Maysville and later returned to school to earn her master’s degree in Special Education from Northwest Missouri State University. After several years as a classroom teacher, she became a diagnostic consultant and then the Assistant Director of Special Services for the St. Joseph School District, retiring in 1996.

Throughout their lives, Shirley and Kenneth made lasting friendships. Many weekends were spent at Lake Viking boating and water skiing with friends and family and enjoying so much good food including Shirley’s famous “Brownies for the Crowd.” She made holidays so special for her family. Her Thanksgiving grocery list is still used each year to make sure we have her traditional meal on the table.

After retirement, Shirley and Kenneth enjoyed traveling across the United States. Fall was her favorite time to travel, as she loved chasing the changing colors of the leaves. While they loved travel, their priority was always spending time with family. Whether it was cattle shows, ice skating competitions, football or basketball games, they were always there to support their grandchildren: Abbey, Kara, Courtney, and Benjamin. That joy only grew as they welcomed seven great-grandchildren, now ranging in age from 16 years to 5 months. Shirley’s love of family knew no bounds. She always thought of others before herself and she leaves each family member with so many precious memories.

When asked a few months ago what she imagined heaven would be like, Shirley smiled and simply said, “it’s unfathomable.” She now knows.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Moore; her parents, Elbert and Nellie (Griffith) Hammond; her four siblings: Ardith Hammond, Lorene Wilcox, Arlene Clark, and Cleon Hammond, and their spouses; and her son-in-law Neal Niendick.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Linda Niendick and Lora Davison; grandchildren, Abbey (Brady) Manning, Kara (Ryan) Klontz, Courtney (Ryan) Kawelaske, and Benjamin (McKenna) Niendick; great-grandchildren Sophie, Stella, August, Cal, Raelynn, Jensen and Arlo.

A visitation will be held on Monday, August 11th from 10-11am with a memorial service to immediately follow at Speaks Suburban Chapel in Independence, Missouri. An inurnment will take place at the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations in Shirley’s memory be made to the American Heart Association or the Community Christian Center of Wellington, Missouri and given or mailed to Speaks Suburban Chapel 18020 East 39th St S. Independence, MO 64055