June 8, 1936 - March 26, 2016
SHIRLEY ELIZABETH CLEVENGER (DeSPAIN)
Born in Helena, MO to Thelma May Clevenger (Boling) and Theodore Lee Clevenger, on June 8th, 1936. Shirley passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, March 26th, 2016, at the Livingston Manor Care Facility, in Chillicothe, MO, after a long fought battle with cancer.
Shirley graduated from Savannah High School in 1954 and then attended NWSU and MWSU. In the early to mid-1960's she sang with the St. Joe chapter of "The Sweet Adelines". She went on to teach as a substitute teacher, teaching music and art. She later acquired her LPN and served many years working as a nurse in nursing home facilities. In her spare time, she loved being in nature and bird watching.
Shirley is preceded in death by her grandparents, Lloyd and Elizabeth Kime of Maryville, MO and her parents Theodore and Thelma of Savannah, MO. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth DeSpain of Dawn, MO; her brother, David Clevenger (Mary) of St. Joe, MO; her daughter Sherry Siu (Allen) of Irvine, CA; her daughter Brenda Layton (John) of Palmer, AK; her daughter Nancy Elliott Rogers (David) of Eugene, OR; her son Lynn Elliott (Teresa) of Lawrence, KS; her step-daughter Debbie Chancellor (Gary) of Kansas City, MO; her nephew Mark Clevenger of St. Joe, MO; her six grandchildren, Elliott Siu (Bethany) of CA, Elizabeth Siu of CA, Jackie Layton of AK, Amanda Crichton (Scott) of Scotland, Brian Elliott Rogers of OR, and Christine Porter (Robert) of MO; and two great grandchildren, Celia and Anaston Porter of MO.
Services will be Saturday April 9th @1:00pm at the Breit Hawkins Funeral Home in Savannah, MO.; with public visitation and family receiving hours from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Burial will be in the Savannah Cemetery, Savannah, MO.
In lieu of flowers, Shirley wishes for donations to be made to any of the following organizations: 1) The National Audubon Society 2) The Wounded Warriors or 3) The National World Wildlife Fund.
Shirley and Ken wish to thank the entire staff at Livingston Manor Care Facility, the wonderful staff of Hospice Care, Lynn & Teresa for visiting so often and taking care of urgent needs, Sherry for flying several times to camp out at the manor, and to all their friends and family for the many prayers, calls and cards they received.