Shirley Rae (Hendrickson) Boles

Shirley Rae (Hendrickson) Boles, 88, passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in her room at Sunrise of Lenexa Assisted Living in Lenexa, KS. She lived a life full of great love, an abundance of laughter and a lifetime of adventure. She will be greatly missed by all she left behind, but we know she had an amazing welcome home!

Shirley was born September 5, 1934 in Edwardsville, KS to Sam & Evelyn (Herdman) Hendrickson. She had two older sisters and a younger brother who grew up around the Wolcott, KS area on a farm where her job was to take care of the chickens and collect the eggs. This instilled a lifelong love/hate realtionship with chickens. She graduated from Washington High School in Wyandotte County, KS, moved into an apartment near the plaza with a couple of girlfriends, started a job and began her independent life. During a summer party with friends at a popular resort on Bean Lake, MO she met and started dating Darrel Boles from Leavenworth, KS who was recently discharged from the Air Force. Even though they were soulmates, it took Darrel three tries before Shirley accepted his proposal. The first because she and some friends were going on a trip that Shirley didn’t want to miss. The second she still wasn’t ready to settle down. But the third time was the charm and she followed Darrel around the world and back dragging two children, households and a variety of dogs with them. One of Shirley’s dreams was to travel with matching luggage, no dog draped over her arm and pressed clothing.

Darrel and Shirley started married life in Lawrence, KS where Darrel was attending Kanas University and where their daughter, Sharon, was born. From there, Shirley followed Darrel to Witchita, KS; Leavenworth, KS; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (where her son, Michael, was born); Manassas, VA; Chicago, IL, Minneapolis, MN; Athens, Greece; Lnynchburg, VA, then finally returned to Kansas City where they resided near Parkville, MO for over 40 years until Darrel’s death. She always said she kept trying to lose her daughter and son by moving around and leaving no forwarding address, but they kept finding them. Shirley sporadically worked over the years in several companies like Stiver Temporaries, Russel Stover, supported the owner of a Mystery Shopper company, then retired as a Human Resource Manager at Western Auto. After both Darrel and Shirley retired they had a second career working for a company contracted by the airlines in Kansas City to deliver lost bags. They delivered bags together from Omaha to Witchita to Eureka Springs to Columbia and everywhere in-between well into their 70s. Her daughter was always asking, “It’s 11:00 PM, do you know where your parent’s are?”

Shirley’s life revolved around her husband, children, family and home. She was fiercely independent and stubborn as a mule. Shirley loved to read in her “spare” time learning new information or indulging in fantasy lives; finding new recipes to try cooking or baking; experiencing new adventures with her best friend, Barbara Young or playing with her grandchildren and showing them new experiences. She was a Girl Scout Leader and Cookie Chairwomen, school room mother, church youth group leader, Athens Women’s Guild leader, Masonic Wives Group or step in wherever she felt a need.

In 2012, Darrel fell and sustained a brain injury while they were doing yardword, Shirley spent her days taking care of him, the house, the yard, bills, problems and everything else until his death in April of 2020. Even though Darrel traveled extensively as a salesman until his retirement, Shirley knew he was constantly there physically or in spirit to lean on and share whatever came at them. They were truly a team. Shirley lost that teamwork that defined their realtionship after his fall even though her children, family and friends tried to fill the gap and help in any way they could. Everything Shirley did was for Darrel’s comfort and quality of life. But that is Shirley. Always caring for family, friends and strangers doing whatever was needed to help. Lend a helping hand, produce required tools, give advice, share money or just offer a shoulder to cry on. She was a nuturer through and through. Never thinking of herself. Always putting her wants, needs and likes last. No matter what trials or tribulations she had to handle, she always did so with humor and a ‘git er done’ attitude. Her favorite phrase going through tough times is, “This too shall pass.”

She missed Darrel’s comforting presence since his death in April of 2023, as well as, the death of her son, Michael, in June of 2019. For a fiercely independent women it was hard for her to accept moving into assisted living because she needed help in daily living and could not upkeep a home any longer. She was no longer busy keeping a home for her loved ones which was her motivation and joy. Shirley was also not able to get out and participate in new experiences she so thoroughly enjoyed. Her joy in interacting with grandchildren and great grandchildren still brought a smile to her face. Shirley lived life on her terms (regardless of terms Darrel tried to set) and taught her children the strength, wisdom, humor and persistence to live happy independent lives.

Shirley is predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Darrel Boles; son, Michael Boles ( Peggy Jascek); Sister Lois Lipp (Herb); Sister Jean Miller (Don “Squirt”); parents Sam & Evelyn Hendrickson; many dogs, Pokey, Freckles, Coco, Dandy, Dixie.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Boles) Blaine; brother, Dale Hendrickson; grandchildren, Brianna Blaine, Justin Blaine, Amber Boles, Kamilla Boles, Marissa (Avery) Boles; 2 great-grandchildren; Sister-in-Law, Mavis Alexander; and many nieces and nephews; Friends, Barbara and Jerry Young;

A visitation for Shirley will be held Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Chapel Hill - Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM with the burial directly after the service.

Serving as pallbearers are Justin Blaine, Kamilla Boles, Amber Boles, Brianna Blaine and Avery Boles.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Boles family.