Shirley Gilmore

Shirley Elizabeth Gilmore, 73, of Willard, Missouri, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Maranatha Village Rehabilitation Center in Springfield.  Shirley was born on January 25, 1952, in Plattsburg, Kansas, the youngest of three children born to Margaret Juanita (Fisher) and Lowry M. Gilmore.  

In 1970, Shirley graduated from Willard High School as class valedictorian. Following high school, she attended Missouri State University where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in history and geology in 1974.  That fall, with a mission to work in one of Missouri’s small, rural school districts, Shirley moved to Marquand, in Southeast Missouri where she taught for the next 25 years at Marquand-Zion High School, raising the bar for excellence in education.  During this time, she and former student turned life-long friend, Denny Ward, spearheaded the development of the Marquand Historical Park by moving and restoring a 200-year-old log homestead, moving a section of the E.S. Lett Memorial Bridge, establishing The Depot Museum and organizing Pioneer Days, an annual celebration that carries on today in the Marquand community.  

Retiring from Marquand-Zion with great fanfare, Shirley returned to Willard, Missouri, where she would care for her mother and eventually build a new home on the Gilmore Family Farm.  It was during this time that Shirley completed her Masters in Geology at Southwest Missouri State University, worked as the Educational Director for Fantastic Caverns, and became a lay minister of the United Methodist Church.  As a lay minister, Shirley pastored Elwood Methodist Church and later accepted the position of church secretary at Pathways United Methodist Church in Springfield, Missouri, where she remained until 2021.  

Following her final retirement decision, Shirley was able to pursue her life’s passion for formalized science fiction writing. In 2014, she published the first in a series known as “Bucky and The Lukefahr Ladies,” which has evolved into its eighth volume (which was in the final editing stages at the time of her passing) plus two spin-off books from the series.

 In addition to these accomplishments, Shirley was a gifted artist who hand painted her Christmas cards each year, a budding violinist, talented sewing, quilting and needlecraft artist, nature enthusiast, avid animal lover, gardener and humanitarian.  

 Shirley was proceeded in death by her parents and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Middlemas-Gilmore.  

She is survived by her brothers: Lowry Michael Gilmore of Lexington, Virginia and Daniel Gilmore and his wife, Janice, of Willard, Missouri;   nephews: Seth, Brennan, Shawn (Kate), and Nathan (Amy) Gilmore; and Nieces, Meredyth (Steven) and Tiffany; plus several great-nephews and nieces.  

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home in Ash Grove, with services to be held on Thursday, March 6, at Pathways United Methodist Church in Springfield. Visitation is scheduled at 11 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. service.

Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marquand Development Corporation – P.O. Box 101 – Marquand, MO 63655 to help preserve the Henry and Jane Bess-Sitze Log Homestead and Marquand Depot Museum.