Shirley E (Kelley) Morrow

Shirley Eudena Kelley Morrow passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Tiffany Springs in Kansas City, Missouri. Shirley was born and raised on a farm in the Mount Bethel area of Weston, Missouri. She was the youngest of four children and the only daughter of Arvin Clarence and Eudena Garten Kelley.

Shirley attended Valley Forest School, the same school where her father attended when he was a young boy. For several years her mode of transportation to and from school was her faithful horse, Midnight. She tied him to a tree outside the school and brought him water throughout the day before making the trek home after classes ended. Outside of attending school, Shirley helped farm the land with her parents and enjoyed participating in rodeo events as a barrel racer.

After completing elementary school, she attended West Platte High School, where she graduated from in 1955. After graduation, Shirley went to Northwest Missouri State, where she was a student for two years. After college, she worked for the KPL in Leavenworth and the Water Department.

On September 15, 1962, Shirley Eudena Kelley and James Ronald Morrow were united in marriage at St. Ignatius Chapel in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Their family soon became a family of four with the arrival of two sons, Randy and Ricky, followed by a surprise addition eleven years later when their youngest son, Robby, entered the world.

The Morrow family made their home in Kansas City, Kansas, and were faithful members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Shirley was an active and involved mother for her sons while they attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and Bishop Ward High School. She was also a big supporter of her sons who all participated in area sports programs, where Ron coached their baseball teams for 22 years. Shirley was also a big supporter of the family’s love of music, especially drums, which they all played.

After his retirement from the BPU, Shirley and Ron owned and showed German Shepherds in the surrounding four-state area. For 30 years they also owned and operated "The Drum Pad" on 78th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, where the infamous "Drums for Sale" sign was posted at the end of their drive.

Her loving husband, Ron, passed away in September of 2005 just eight days before their 43rd wedding anniversary. Her brothers, Douglas, Robert and William also predeceased her, as well as her niece, Kimberly Kelley, and two nephews, Thomas and Doug Kelley.

Left to mourn her passing are three sons, Randal L. Morrow of Key West FL, Richard A. Morrow of Pembroke Pines FL, Robert P. and Kathleen Morrow of Parkville MO; two grandsons, Zayne (Taylor) and Blake Morrow; granddaughter, Marina Morrow Unrein; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

“We will always remember Shirley for her love of children, all the sporting events she attended, especially baseball games and all the band practices at their home and the music that came out of the basement at 78th Street.”