Bachman, Shirley Marie, age 94, passed peacefully on October 5, 2019.
She was a beloved wife to late husband, Verman, mother to late son, Cliff (Beth), mother to David, grandmother to Blake (Jack) McGowan, Paul (Katie), Ellie (Andy) Clemens, James (Rachel) & great-grandmother to Henry, Abby, Lucy & Eva.
Born to Albert & Eva Lishen on May 18, 1925, she graduated from Webster Groves High School in 1943 & earned a degree in Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1947.
After college, Shirley worked briefly as a public school teacher before a secretarial career at Ralston Purina, where she met her future husband, Verman. They spent most of the early years of their marriage in Webster Groves, and for a shorter time, in Farmington, Missouri. Fifty years ago, the family moved to the home in Crestwood where Shirley lived for the rest of her life. Verman predeceased Shirley by forty years.
After marrying, Shirley became a full-time homemaker. She enjoyed traveling with her husband with the Mizzou Tourin’ Tigers. She was a devoted Bible Study Fellowship member/leader for nearly 30 years and a weekly volunteer at her church office for almost a decade. A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, she was an eternal optimist, saying that the team would come back and win when they were behind, and that they would hold on to the lead when they were ahead. She was known to clip Cardinals articles (especially Bernie Micklasz’ column) from the Post-Dispatch and send them, along with handwritten notes, to her grandchildren who were away at college. She was a supporter of St. Louis’ cultural institutions, attended concerts of the St. Louis Symphony, musicals at The Muny, and was a long-time member of the Missouri Botanical Garden. She had a beautiful voice and was a talented pianist.
She was an avid reader, enjoying Jan Karon’s Mitford books and the mystery novels of P.D. James, among other writers.
In her last years, she wanted to and did remain at home. She enjoyed bird-watching and the flowers in the beds and gardens around the house. She looked forward to holidays and other family gatherings, and took special joy in the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also sustained by long-time neighbors who were among her closest friends and developed a special bond with some of the caregivers who were with her during the last several years.
Visitation will be at Kutis Funeral Home (Affton) on October 14, 5-8 pm. Memorials can be made to the Missouri Botanical Garden.