Shirley R. Cox-Schroeder, 66, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at her home in Ellsworth.
Shirley was born February 9, 1954 in Richmond, VA to Richard R. and Glennis H. Cox at Grace Hospital. As a child, she was baptized and received her bible from Westover Hills Methodist Church, Richmond. She grew up in Richmond, enjoying the arts, going to the park- Maymont was her favorite, spending time with friends, exploring nature, and swimming in the James River. In the Summer, she loved spending time at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, immersing herself in the surf, looking for shells, and watching the sun come up. In the fall, she loved the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and could often be found camping with friends alongside a river.
In 1972, she graduated from Hugeonot High School in Richmond. She met her husband, Bob, in Richmond, and in 1987, along with her daughter Ashley, moved to Salina, KS, where she worked for Brown Welding as a purchasing agent. In 1988, she moved to Ellsworth, and worked for Cashco, Inc.
Shirley was a landscape photographer and enjoyed the solitude. In addition, she thoroughly enjoyed genealogy, researching all of her family’s history back to the 1700’s. It was a fascination of hers knowing who her ancestors were and where she came from. She enjoyed reading, and you could often find her nose buried in a book or news article when she wasn’t taking her grandson Lucas on little adventures here and there, or traveling to Colorado with her husband, Bob. She fell into being a sports photographer for the Ellsworth Independent-Reporter and covered the Ellsworth Bearcats, Wilson Dragons, and Central Plains Oilers. She enjoyed this immensely, getting to know not only the coaches, but also the student athletes. In the 5 years of taking pictures of the coaches and student athletes, every one of them left an impact on her heart and in her life. It was a great disappointment to her when her health began to deteriorate, and she could no longer take pictures of “her kids.”
Most importantly, out of all her accomplishments, her daughter Ashley was the greatest achievement of her life. There wasn’t a day that went by that she wasn’t proud of her and her accomplishments. Ashley would later marry and have a son, Lucas. Needless to say, Lucas had her wrapped around his finger from day one. There was nothing Nana wouldn’t do for “her Lucas.”
Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, Glennis H. Cox in 1982, and her father, Richard R. Cox in 1999.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Bob of the home; her precious daughter, Ashley Reynolds Barta of Salina; her heart of hearts, grandson, Lucas J. Barta of Olathe, KS; a loving step-daughter, Lacy Benter (Conan) of Hills, IA; and precious step-grandchildren, Iris and Hazel Benter, as well as her dear cousin, Suzanne Crump Ruark of Deltaville, VA, and several other special cousins and friends for whom she considered her family. Shirley was loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the Assembly of God Church, Ellsworth with Pastor Exie Barber officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln, KS.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Salina Animal Services or Tammy Walker Cancer Center, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.