Shirley Jean Bishop

On the evening of August 9, 2025, in Nixa, Missouri, the world lost a little of its light when Shirley Jean Bishop, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away. She was 90 years old.

Shirley was born December 18, 1934, in Springfield, Illinois, to George Elmer Rose and Mary Elizabeth (Stanley). She arrived in the midst of the Great Depression and grew up during World War II—times that demanded grit and grace in equal measure. From those early years, Shirley learned to face life’s challenges with courage, but never lost the spark that made her a beacon of joy to everyone she met.

She was the kind of person who could turn an ordinary day into a treasured memory. She loved to dance and sing, filling rooms with music and laughter. She even took evening classes to refine those passions before embarking on a career that became her pride—working with the U.S. Navy at the Pentagon, a job that made her eyes shine every time she spoke of it.

She retired after serving twenty years with the Department of Revenue for the state of Illinois, an additional accomplishment for her life.

Shirley’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her children, Raymond Allen Coontz and his wife Carol, and Deborah Hantle and her husband Jeff; her grandchildren, Adam Hantle, Jennifer Hantle, Jessica Johnson, Ashleigh Hebden, Jason Coontz, Monica Moreno, and Dennis Garren; her twelve great-grandchildren; and her one precious great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her seven siblings, with whom she shared a lifetime of memories.

Shirley will be laid to rest at a later date at Roselawn Memorial Park in Butler, Illinois. Cremation rites are under the care of Adams Crematory, and arrangements are being handled by Adams Funeral Home in Nixa, Missouri.

Shirley’s legacy is one of love, laughter, and unwavering perseverance. She will be dearly missed, but the joy she brought into the world will live on in the hearts of her family and friends forever.