Helen Elizabeth Haigh Shackelford

Helen was the first child of Margaret Weaver Haigh and Ekin Smith Haigh. She was born November 3, 1931, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Over the years, the family moved to Chicago, New York City and New Orleans. Helen and her mother eventually returned to Jefferson City where they settled. Helen assisted greatly with managing their home and taking care of her younger sister, Bonita.

Always a quick learner, Helen graduated from Jefferson City High School at the age of 16. Her beloved grandfather, George Edward Haigh “Big Daddy”, would not allow her to attend the University of Missouri at such a young age. So she enrolled as a freshman at Jefferson City Junior College. The following year, Helen entered MU on a chemistry scholarship as a sophomore.

College life as a Missouri Tiger was very fulfilling. Helen joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and began to socialize. On Christmas break, while standing at the shrimp bowl during a mixer held at the Kansas City Club, Jim Nutter approached Helen on behalf of a shy upperclassman across the crowded room. Introductions were made, and Helen met the man who would soon become the love of her life, John Hutt Shackelford.

Helen and John were married in Booneville, Missouri in 1952. They remained a loving couple for nearly 72 years until John passed away in 2024. Helen and John had four children, followed by ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. There was never a dull moment in the Shackelford home.

Helen was devoted to her family, but also found unique ways to help others and remain engaged with friends and her community. Helen was an active member of the Junior League of Kansas City, and held a leadership role within the Children’s Theatre Group. She was involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma holiday house tours. For many years, she was a Docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and specialized in guiding tours of the Oriental art exhibits. She was a member of the Altar Guild at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She also volunteered as a salesperson and a merchandise buyer for the gift shop at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Helen loved spending time at Belinder Elementary School and Sunset Hill School as a room mother where she would have fun mingling with her children and their friends.

Helen had numerous hobbies and pastimes. She was very gifted at needlepoint – in particular petit point. She worked at The Studio, a local needlepoint shop, where she handled sales and created hand-painted intricate designs on needlepoint canvas. She played golf and tennis and enjoyed the sunshine at the Kansas City Country Club. Cheering on her kids at swim meets, she would often work at the scorer’s table. Helen was a skilled bridge player, and loved to participate in numerous bridge clubs. At one point, she was the treasurer of her local investment club, Knickerbocker LLC. To her children’s amazement, Helen loved to work the weekly crossword puzzle with an ink pen – using a pencil with an eraser was not as challenging. In her backyard, Helen loved gardening and was an avid bird watcher who could name each species who frequented the many bird feeders hanging about.

Helen kept a cozy home that always had a Scottish Terrier running around. And the occasional stray cat. She made spectacular meals for hungry family members and dear friends. Her steak soup was a particular family favorite, and friends of her kids would often ask if leftovers were available. If so, Helen would always heat up a bowl. For the Fourth of July, she would prepare world-class brisket along with her own homemade BBQ sauce. This was always a celebration when combined with her dilly bread, potato salad, deviled eggs, and green tomato relish. Special desserts included her hello dollies and chocolate peanut butter balls. She skillfully made comfort food into an art form!

Helen is survived by her sister, Bonita Haigh Payne (John); her daughters Susan Kanaga (Chris) and Jill Shackelford, and her sons John Shackelford, Jr. (Holly) and Scott Shackelford (Karen Porter); her grandchildren Courtney Kanaga Fogarty, John Kanaga (Stacy), Helen Hall, Will Hall, Will Shackelford, Emma Shackelford, Meg Shackelford Verret (Will), Lydia Shackelford, Meredith Shackelford and Troy Shackelford; and her great-grandchildren Anastasia Chase, Evan Chase, Mark Fogarty, Reagan Kanaga, Madison Kanaga, Will Kanaga, Lou Verret and Ruth Verret. She was preceded in death by her husband John Hutt Shackelford and her daughter-in-law Martha Shackelford.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 31, 2025, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital or St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.