Shirley Ann Kennedy

Shirley Ann (Taylor) Kennedy was born on March 14, 1931, and passed away peacefully on September 5, 2024, at the age of 93. She was born in Fort Madison, Iowa to Bernard and Agnes (Kuhlmeier) Taylor. Growing up, she loved spending time visiting relatives on their farms where she would babysit younger cousins and help tend to the animals. She wasn’t afraid to go outside and play in the dirt, whether it was marbles, hopscotch, or baseball with neighborhood kids. She valued faith and family over anything else all her life. Her Catholic faith’s strong foundation was formed while attending daily mass in elementary school. She looked back on her days in Fort Madison fondly, such as the hours she spent swinging with her maternal grandparents on their porch swing.

She graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1948 and started work as a phone operator. Outside of faith and family, Shirley always had a desire to travel and see more of the country, so she transferred her job to California to be near her paternal grandparents. After a few years, she moved to Kansas City, KS, where her parents had relocated. There, she met Charles ‘Chuck’ Kennedy on a blind date and the two were married on October 5, 1957. They moved to Lenexa in 1958 and joined Holy Trinity parish. Chuck and Shirley were truly the best of friends. They could make anywhere and anything fun as long as they were together. They spent 56 happy years raising three children, camping, fishing, square dancing, traveling, playing cards, and wintering in Texas, collecting friends around the country every step of the way.

Chuck and Shirley taught square dancing lessons in their basement and started their own club called The Golden Slippers. Their love of square dancing led to her mother opening a square dance apparel store, Taylor Made, where she and Shirley worked together until Agnes passed away in 1975. Shirley then began working as a secretarial aide at Rosehill Elementary in Lenexa until she retired in 1989.

Above all else, Shirley was a devoted wife and mother. She was happiest with a great grandbaby in her lap and her family gathered around sharing food and laughing over a board game. She loved to open her home to family and friends for gatherings. She especially found joy in creating special holiday traditions with her family. Her legendary Christmas cookie decorating with her grandchildren provided life-long memories. Shirley was known for keeping everything equal for her family whether she was counting the number of strawberries in everyone’s dessert dish or evenly distributing the jellybeans in Easter baskets.

Shirley was a gifted crafter, creating many knitted and needlepoint crafts for most of her life. She discovered her talent and love for painting at age 62. She painted nature landscapes on canvas and decorated many festive wooden figures for all holiday seasons. These wooden figures now adorn the homes of her family, enabling her to continue to bring joy to holidays even in her absence. She was a spirited woman who was great company to watch any sporting event with and was an especially dedicated KU basketball fan.

In her final days, faith and family remained her most steady loves and sources of comfort. She was known for her nightly rosaries, praying for the safety and health of all her family. She never let a day go by without showing kindness and gratitude to those around her and caring for her. She was adamant that family and friends not be sad upon her passing, as she was ready to be with Jesus, reunite with loved ones, and join the square dance that Chuck has been hosting for the last 10 years waiting for his dance partner to join him.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck Kennedy; son, Kevin Kennedy; parents, Bernard and Agnes Taylor; sister, Marilyn (Tom) Conradt; and brother, Dale Taylor.

Her survivors include her son, Ken (Jeani) Kennedy, Woodland Park, CO; daughter, Bernadette (Jeff) Kaplan, Leawood; daughter-in-law, Nancy Kennedy, Lenexa; grandchildren, Kari (Jonathan) Ashley, Keith (Kate) Kennedy, and Kirk Kennedy, Brent (Laura) Kennedy, Sean (Rebekah) Kennedy, Faith (Danny) Harvey and Kenny Kennedy, Tyler (Daniela) Kaplan, Alex (Anisha) Kaplan, Abigail (Luke) Dinkel and Mary Grace Kaplan; and 12 great-grandchildren (with her 13th on the way). George, Maria, Edith and Zelie Ashley; Genevieve and Resi Kennedy; Caia Harvey; Rowan Kaplan; Finley, River and Everett Kaplan; Charlotte Dinkel. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Shirley’s family would like to thank all those who played a role in caring for her in her final days, especially her dedicated caregivers, Amy Bach and Mona Petrie, and everyone at Lakeview Village and Elara Caring Hospice. Memorial contributions can be made to Head for the Cure Foundation https://headforthecure.org/donate/ in honor of her husband’s and son’s battles with brain cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 16, 2024, at 10:30 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13615 W 92nd St, in Lenexa, KS, visitation will begin at 9:30 am at the church, and a Rosary will be prayed at 10:15am. Luncheon will follow the mass, Interment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.