Sheila Muriel Shinn

Sheila was born on May 8, 1940, in Kirksville, Missouri, to the late Otto Lee and Dorsey Muriel (Naylor) Shinn and was the youngest of three children. Upon graduating from college, Sheila taught social studies and English to high school students at Raytown South High School and touched many lives throughout her long-tenured career.

Sheila enjoyed a lifelong passion for gardening, creating her first garden journal as a child and as an adult provided years of volunteer service as a trained Master Gardener through the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Program. She presented educational lectures with the organization’s Speakers’ Bureau, was a regular contributor to the volunteer publication, The Back Fence, and worked at the Beanstalk community children’s garden. Sheila was an avid reader and an amazing storyteller. She also enjoyed genealogy. Sheila’s love of gardening and genealogy came together in her garden where she raised plants from seeds that had been in her family since the 1800s. Sheila was an exceptionally loving dog mother, providing a home and companionship for her wonderful pugs.

Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Steve Shinn, her sister-in-law, Anna Ruth (Baylor) Shinn, and her nephew, Alan Shinn. Sheila is survived by her brother, David Shinn (Libby), eight nieces and nephews, and a close circle of friends.

A celebration of Sheila’s life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made in Sheila’s memory to the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City.