Shirley was born on January 19, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri to Harlow and Florence Coffield and lived in the metro area her entire life. Shirley graduated from Ruskin High School and attended the University of Kansas City. She was a member of Cure of Ars Catholic Church for 60 years.
She married Victor H. White in 1952 and enjoyed 39 years of marriage until his death in 1991. He owned a homebuilding company and she was actively involved in managing his business. Shirley loved her volunteer work at Cure of Ars as a School of Religion teacher, RCIA volunteer, Eucharistic minister, and for 25 years led a staff of volunteers to maintain the gardens and trees on the church and school grounds. She loved studying the scriptures and was a regular attendee in Msgr. Charles weekly Bible study. Shirley especially enjoyed gardening and maintained large perennial gardens at her home and was a member of the Red Bridge Garden club for many years. She loved caring for her grandchildren and attending their numerous sporting events, recitals, and school activities.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Harlow and Florence and her husband, Vic. She is survived by her children Sue Kreamer, Steve White (Lisa), Marty White and Jamie White; her grandchildren, Lindsey Kreamer-Fuccillo (David), Kyle Kreamer, Kim White and Kit Johnson (Elliott), and her 3 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff and caregivers at The Forum Overland Park who were so caring and compassionate to Shirley in her last few months of life.