Peggy Sue Shipley, age 86 of rural Drexel, Missouri passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving children by her side on April 12, 2024, after a short illness. A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (816-657-4400). Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at the Drexel Christian Church. Burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care or the National Kidney Foundation. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Peggy was born August 10th 1937 northeast of Adrian, Missouri the only child of Marion Albertus “Bert” and Leta Belle “Barkley” Stark.
Peggy grew up very modestly being an only child. In her early childhood she had no electricity or running water and read by a kerosene lamp. Her special dog Penny was her companion to play with an keep her company. Peggy at a very young age accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a devoted Christian and showed that through her giving spirit every day.
Her teenage years found her milking the cow, and feeding hogs and helping with farm chores. But for pleasure she had three horses Victor, Thunder, and Cheetah, her palomino which she rode in their timber and rode many miles over the countryside. She was a member of the Bit & Spur Saddle Club for many years and was also a member of the Willing Workers 4-H club where she learned cooking and sewing and raised and showed her Hampshire hogs at many fairs, where she won numerous ribbons.
Peggy attended Crescent Hill grade school graduating from the 8th grade and completed her education at Adrian High School graduating with the class of 1955. After high school Peggy moved to Kansas City and after several odd jobs landed a job with Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator later moving to Harrisonville and working for United Telephone Company until June 1959.
After the love of her life Norris Elden Shipley, whom she met on a blind date returned from a 2-year stint in the US Army, they were married in Miami, Oklahoma on January 25th 1959. Later buying the M.P. Smith farm northeast of Drexel. To this union two children were born Steven Lee in 1960 and Gena Kay in 1961. Peggy was a devoted wife and mother and loved to garden and sew, she was an excellent seamstress making lots of her own clothes. She started on a treadle sewing machine. Cooking and also baking was her passion making her chocolate chip cookies was her specialty and yearly angel food cakes for birthdays was a must. She helped with the farm when she could too, adding to her responsibilities.
During the last 30 years or so Steven and her loved to visit casinos and traveled both by car and on many bus trips including trips to Omaha, Des Moines, Dubuque, Springfield, IL, Memphis, Nashville, San Antonio, Little Rock and Dodge City and in 2019 took their last bus trip to Williamstown, KY to see a replica of Noah’s Ark.
Peggy was member of the Lisle Home Club for over 50 years. Later on, she had a gift to send greeting cards to friends and family on special occasions just to bring a smile, she always said it was the least she could do. A loving soul that brought a smile to all who knew her.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Norris on May 12th 2004 and her surrogate mother Ruth Wendleton. She leaves behind to mourn her passing her son Steven Shipley of the home and daughter Gena Rivera of Kearney, MO. Good friends Danny & Angie Stephens, Kayla Johns, Darrell & Sheryl Gilbert, Jim & Gloria Stewart, Steve & Cathy Fellers, Kevin & Pam Medcalf, Larry & Glenda Wood and Susie Fay and many cousins and host of friends. She loved to laugh and will be sadly missed by all that really knew her kind soul and spirit and infectious smile.