Shirley Oliver Passes Away

Shirley A. Oliver of Maple Hill, 84, died Friday, March 9, 2018 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.

She was born July 7, 1933 in Topeka the daughter of Joseph V. and Muriel Merillat Huggins. Shirley and her family moved about during her youth, she graduated from Delia High School in 1951 and attended Clark's School of Business in Topeka.

Shirley worked for SWB Telephone many years retiring in 1988. She later worked at Peoples State Bank in Rossville for several years. She was a member of the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church. Shirley was instrumental in the creation of the Maple Hill Senior Center and was extremely active and proud to have served as President and board member and to be a part of the "action" there. She was a past director of the Maple Hill Parks & Rec commission and had run the concession stand many years. Both Shirley and her husband Gene coached ball teams when their children were young and she played fast pitch softball many years. She was a member of the Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging. Shirley was a member of GFWC, Kiwanis, FCE and the American Legion Auxiliary.

On September 6, 1957 Shirley and Harold E. "Gene" Oliver were united in marriage in Maple Hill. He preceded her in death on August 17, 1989. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Cecil and Jim Huggins and Muriel Huggins Wilson; a granddaughter Amber Kessler.

Survivors include three sons, Steve (Ginny) Oliver, Paxico, Harold (Shawna) Oliver, Riley and David (Peggy) Oliver, Topeka; two daughters, Debbie (John) Kessler, Blue Rapids and Linda (Alan) Miller, Alma; 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Oliver will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M. Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. Memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Hill Senior Center and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences please visit http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/shirley-oliver/