Shirley Blackman

Shirley Janet (McGinley) Blackman, age 85, entered into her heavenly home on May 24, 2020 after a long illness with Alzheimer’s and cancer. She was attended to by her family at the Blue Sage Point facility of Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community.

Shirley Janet McGinley was born on March 1, 1935 at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to Francis (Frank) Joseph McGinley and Arlene Roberta (Laverack) McGinley. Shirley met John Wendell Blackman on a blind date in 1951 set up by her friend Carol Logan and John’s best friend Ashford Galbreath’s Sister Audrey Galbreath. They attended a dance at Baker University. Then John went off to College at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, John left Graceland in 1952 and began work at the Manor Bakery in Kansas City Missouri. They dated frequently while Shirley finished High School and graduated in May 1953. Then Shirley and John eloped and were married on September 5, 1953.

After their marriage they kept it a secret until Christmas 1953 and that was both parents Christmas gift that year. They moved into the attic of the McGinley home while John still worked at the Manor Bakery in Kansas City Missouri. They moved to the basement apartment of the Hampton Home a block from where Frank (Nuke) and Arlene lived after their daughter Terry Lynn Blackman was born on July 10, 1954. John also changed jobs to Sweet Lumber Company on Roe Boulevard in Johnson County Kansas.  In 1955 John began work at Kansas City Power & Light Company.

Cindy Arlene Blackman was born on March 7, 1958 and Joel Wendell Blackman was born on June 11, 1961.

Shirley was a stay at home mother until all the children began Middle School. She worked at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Kansas City Stake office from 1971 till 1992 when the Office moved to downtown Kansas City Missouri from 4400 Warwick Boulevard.

Then she worked at Black &Veatch Engineering till she retired in 1996.

Shirley especially enjoyed quilting and sewing as her main hobby. She made the girls dresses and many quilts for gifts to others.

She was an ordained minister of Evangelist in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She loved her family and friends very much and was always willing to serve them when needed.

She was preceded in death by her Father Frank (Nuke) McGinley, her mother Arlene (Laverack) McGinley, her brother Frank (Butch) McGinley, and her son Joel Wendell Blackman.

She is survived by her husband John Wendell Blackman of 66 years of marriage. Her daughter Terry Lynn (Blackman) Snodgrass and husband Thomas Snodgrass, Grand Daughter Meghan Lynn (Snodgrass) and husband David Broxterman, Great Grand Children Calvin Broxterman, Eddie Broxterman, Emmett Broxterman; Grand Son Cody Jesse Snodgrass and wife Heather Chamberlin. Her daughter Cindy Arlene (Blackman) Hester and husband Charles Hester, Grand Daughter Amy Marie (Hester) Brusk, Great Grand Children Joshua Brusk, Matthew Brusk;  Grand Son Bradley Charles Hester and wife Melanie (Turner) Hester, Grand Son Craig Aaron Hester, Great Grand Children Katherine Hester, Charles Hester, Isabella Hester. Her daughter-in-law Kimberly Ann (Daley)(Blackman) Bruza and husband Troy Bruza, Grand Son Brett Wendell Blackman, Great Grand Children Jillian Blackman, Elizabeth Blackman, Malachi Blackman; Great Grand Son   Brandon James Blackman and wife Olivia (Rollene) Blackman; Grand Son Kyle Aaron Blackman and wife Ashley (Bowen) Blackman, Great Grand Children Beckett Blackman, Leland Blackman.

A memorial service to celebrate Shirley's life will be 10:00 am Saturday September 12, 2020 at the Lenexa Baptist Church.