Shirley Ann Minor

Shirley Minor (née McCook), age 99, passed away peacefully in Kansas City, Missouri.

Born in 1925, Shirley was the daughter of Ethel and Peter McCook. She graduated from Butler High School before pursuing her passion for nursing at Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City. During World War II, she joined the Cadet Nurse Corps and proudly graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1946. That same year, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Minor (formerly of Huntsville, MO). Together, they shared 54 years of marriage, raising four children and welcoming nine grandchildren before Jerry’s passing in 2000. In the years that followed, Shirley joyfully embraced the arrival of seventeen great- grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense pride and happiness.

Shirley dedicated her life to both her family and her passions. A devoted nurse, she cared deeply for others throughout her career. Beyond nursing, genealogy was a lifelong pursuit; she meticulously documented extensive records of both the McCook and Minor family trees, leaving behind an invaluable legacy for future generations. Her love for history extended to Biblical studies and archaeology, and she consistently studied God's Word and lived by His teachings.

She was a member of Colonial Presbyterian Church and participated in numerous organizations including the Trinity Lutheran Nursing Alumnae, the Baptist-Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation (now AcruxKC), and several genealogical societies. She was also a former active member of Leawood Baptist Church.

Shirley is survived by her four children: Greg; Janis (Doug); Marva(John); and Cort (Connie). She also leaves behind nine adored grandchildren and her cherished seventeen great- grandchildren. Shirley will also be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jerry; her parents, her brother Peter McCook and sister-in-law Joan McCook; all of her close lifelong friends; and all her nursing classmates from Trinity Lutheran School of Nursing, class of 1946.

A funeral service will be held on March 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens, located at 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, Kansas. Following the funeral service, a graveside service will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Missouri (715 East Mill Street).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Colonial Presbyterian Church (9500 Wornall Rd, KC,MO 64114; in memory of Shirley Minor) or to AcruxKC for nursing scholarships (https://www.acruxKC.org/contribute; in memory of Shirley Minor, class of 1946).

Shirley’s life was one filled with love for family, faith in God’s teachings, and a deep appreciation for history and heritage. Her memory will live on through the lives she touched and the legacy she carefully preserved for generations to come.