Shirley Jean Baker Wallen (82) of Grain Valley, MO was called home on April 14, 2016 after a short battle with cancer. Shirley was born September 2, 1933 in Plattsmouth, NE, the youngest of Oliver and Tillie (Gannaway) Baker’s four children.

The family moved to Dunnegan, MO when Shirley was a young girl. The daughter of a Baptist deacon, she developed a love for singing and gospel music. Shirley attended Bear Creek School until its consolidation with Stockton High School, where she enjoyed playing on the girls’ basketball team and graduated in 1951. She married her high school sweetheart, Harold “Hal” Wallen, December 16, 1951 at the Humansville Baptist Church.

Proud to be part of Hal’s military service, the family was stationed at multiple Air Force bases in California, Missouri, Azore Islands, New York, Arkansas, and Tripoli, Libya. All three children, Jennifer, Debra and Bruce, were born on military bases. Shirley participated in an all-star softball team and bowling leagues, which she remembered fondly later in life and could show the trophies to prove it. The family returned to Missouri in 1968, where all three children attended and graduated from Stockton High School.

Shirley primarily worked civil service positions during her husband’s Air Force career. Following Hal’s death in 1971, Shirley served as an administrative assistant with the Cedar County Extension office. She then worked 20 years with the Corps of Engineers both at the Stockton and Truman Power Plants, until her retirement in 1994. She often liked to joke that she was “just a DAM secretary.” Following retirement, she moved to Grain Valley, MO to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Shirley was a dedicated daughter to her mother Tillie, affectionately called “Grannie Mom,” serving as primary caregiver during the last eight years of her mother’s life.

She loved music, often travelling to Branson to enjoy gospel and country western shows. Later in life as her health declined, she stayed closer to home developing a love for reading mystery, western and romance novels. She spent many hours watching her favorite Gaither DVDs, Hallmark Channel and RFD-TV shows like Hee Haw and Lawrence Welk.

Shirley, known to family as “Grammie,” was an incredibly supportive figure in the lives of her children and grandchildren, attending countless school, sport and scout activities. She will be remembered for her willingness to offer unsolicited advice, wisdom and knowledge, always with a moral lesson. An enthusiastic card player, Grammie was still winning against her grown grandchildren in games like pinochle, hand and foot, three-thirteen, and pitch, just weeks before her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold (Hal) Wallen, her parents, Oliver and Tillie Baker, and three siblings, Donald Baker, Hazel Gunier, and Elbert “Bud” Baker. She is survived by one sister-in-law Josephine Baker of Springfield, MO; two daughters, Jennifer Pierce (Daniel) of Moscow, ID, and Debra Fritts (David) of Blue Springs, MO; one son Bruce Wallen (Lisa) of Blue Springs, MO; 6 grandchildren Amy Garwood (Dean) Post Falls, ID, Cody Fritts of Lake Lotawana, MO, Nicholas Wallen, Emily Pierce, Jason Fritts (Tabitha and great granddaughter Charlee) and Josh Wallen all of Kansas City, MO; and her faithful Schnauzer companion, Max. She also leaves behind other loving relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 20 from 3 – 5 pm followed by a Celebration of Life Service at Faith United Methodist Church, 1950 SW Eagles Parkway, Grain Valley, MO. under the direction of Royer Funeral Home. Graveside service will be April 21 at 2:00 pm. at Stockton Cemetery under the direction of Brumback Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Cancer Action, 4010 S Lynn Court, Independence, MO 64055 or www.canceractionkc.org.

Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO   816-847-4441