Shirley M. Condra of Grain Valley passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2007. Visitation will be form 4:0 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2007 at Royer Funeral Home, 100 Royer Lane, Grain Valley, MO. A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 21st at Grain Valley Christian Church, 900 W. Jefferson (north outer belt road), Grain Valley, MO. There will be a visitation service Monday, January 22nd from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home, Centerville, Iowa followed by burial at Livingston Cemetery. She is survived by her husband Carl, of 55 years; son, Chris Condra; daughters, Terri Love and Cathy Brown; parents, Jake and Grace Foster; 2 sisters, Dixie Kaster and Roma Underwood; and 4 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Foster.
Shirley was born on November 4, 1930. She is the oldest of 3 other siblings and was raised on a farm in southern central Iowa. She graduated from the junior college in Centerville, Iowa in 1950. After college, she lived briefly in Des Moines and worked at a bank. She married Carl Condra in 1951 and moved to a farm close to Numa, Iowa. Shirley and her family moved to Independence, MO in 1957.
In 1964, the family moved 1 mile north of Grain Valley, Mo and built a home. The family attended Grain Valley Methodist Church and Shirley began substitute teaching at Grain Valley Elementary School. Shirley spent many summers teaching water safety and swimming. She played catcher for a women’s softball team, coached girl’s basketball, and was active in Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. in 1970 Shirley graduated with a bachelors degree in elementary education and graduated with a masters degree in mathematics from CMSU in 1972. She taught at Grain Valley School until 1982.
In 1983, Shirley and her husband, with partners, opened a plumbing supply business called We Supply Plumbing in Blue Springs, MO. Shirley began a women’s clothing store in 1988 in Blue Springs called Looking Sharp which operated until 1997.
Since retiring from the business, Shirley has been involved in her church, Grain Valley Christian Church, volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital, been a member of the board of directors of the Grain Valley Service, been a member of the Grain Valley Optimist club, and a member of Grain Valley Historical Society.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Grain Valley Christian Church or Kansas City Hospice.