Shirley Abbott

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Shirley Arlene (Romine) Abbott of Garden City, Missouri, was born August 23, 1927 near Winigan, Missouri, the daughter of Ogden L. and Verdie (Wallace) Romine. She departed this life on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the age of 84.
Shirley grew up on a farm in northern Missouri. She went to Alexander Rural School and Green City High School, graduating in 1945. She attended Northeast Missouri Teacher's College in Kirksville, Missouri and later worked as an operator for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Carl and Shirley Abbott were married July 23, 1949. They lived in Winigan, where Carl was cashier at Citizens Bank. Their two children, David Lee and Dianna Beth were born in Winigan before the young family moved to Garden City in January, 1954.
Carl's job as new cashier of the Garden City Bank allowed the family to quickly establish themselves in the community. After her children were in high school, Shirley turned one of her creative hobbies into a successful business. Ceramic Haven opened in 1965 and flourished for many years as a leading regional distributor of ceramic supplies.
Shirley retired in 1995. After Carl's retirement from his position as Chairman of the Board of Garden City Bank in 2001, they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and traveling to many interesting destinations.
She was always active in the Garden City Christian Church, where the fellowship and congregation were a significant part of her life. Community service and helping others were always important to Shirley. She was a volunteer for Garden City's Friendship Meals, where she regularly prepared meals to be delivered to those in the community in need of a hearty lunch and a little company.
Shirley appreciated art and nature. She loved beautiful things and surrounded herself with them. Her many, many paperweights, collected from around the world, and her favorite flowers—orchids and African violets—were always nearby.
Shirley didn't just appreciate beautiful things—she spent her life making them. Her home is filled with the many oil and watercolor paintings she created over the years. A talented seamstress, she stitched countless blouses and dresses for herself and others. In the summer, her yard was abundant with colorful flowers, designed to attract birds and butterflies. Her vegetable garden was always lush and plentiful with bright red tomatoes and strawberries, ripe for a tasty sandwich or jar of jam.
If you were lucky, you got a taste of that jam on homemade bread, alongside some common-sense wisdom and her honest opinion.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Dianna Abbott and infant grandson, Ryan Abbott.
Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Carl, of Garden City; a son, David Abbott and wife Brenda, Harrisonville; four grandchildren, Darren Abbott and wife Jodi, Harrisonville, Andrea Abbott, Harrisonville, Eric Abbott and Brad Abbott, both of Garden City; two great-grandchildren, George Abbott and Owen Abbott, both of Harrisonville; former daughter-in-law Becky Abbott; step grandson Jake Barnett; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City, Missouri. Burial will be in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to Friendship meals.