Shirley Jean Burhenn, 87, El Dorado died Thursday, December 3 at El Dorado Care and Rehab.
Shirley was born in McPherson, KS on November 4, 1933, seventh child of nine born to Walter and Muriel (Itell) Sisson. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1951. Shirley married Irvin Burhenn on January 30, 1952 in the Christian Church in Alva OK. They moved to El Dorado in 1959 from Russell, Kansas. Shirley was a member of the First Christian Church in El Dorado for over 55 years and a woman of strong Christian Faith. She spent many years teaching Sunday school and helping with the church youth organization. She was first and foremost a wife and mother. Later in life she was a supervisor for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. She and Irvin were avid golfers and enjoyed playing courses all over Kansas and surrounding states. She is Past President of the Kansas Women’s Golf Association. She also was an excellent bridge player and was a part of several bridge clubs in El Dorado. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting and gardening. She was a master gardener and also won several state fair awards for her quilts.
Those who survive include her sons Steve Burhenn and wife Adel, Derby, KS; Stewart Burhenn, El Dorado; a daughter Kala and her husband Jerry Bayes, Amelia, OH. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jason and Kristen Burhenn; Lacey and John Haughawout; Seth Burhenn; Zachary Burhenn and two great-grandchildren Ian Haughawout and Avery Burhenn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Irvin and eight brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will take place on Friday, April 9, 2021 at 10:00 am at First Christian Church of El Dorado.
Memorials in her memory may be given to the First Christian Church in care of the Carlson Funeral Home or the Church. Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Shirley at www.carlsoncolonial.com
A letter from Shirley:
Dear Friends,
This I believe, we are not physical beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a physical journey. As you know, my physical journey is over and as I strolled into heaven my family was overjoyed because I had lived so long, they were beginning to wonder if I was going to make it.
The reason I am writing this letter is to tell you all how the Lord has blessed my life.
First of all, He placed me in a Christian family with a mother and father who taught me a faith to live by. Lots of laughter and much bickering and even fighting but there was always much love. I was number seven in the line up and the last to leave this earthly journey.
Then Irv came into my life and with him his family who each, in their own way, blessed my life. We were married sixty years, eleven months and four days. He was the love of my life. We worked hard and the Lord always provided us strength and we always had everything we needed. Life was good.
The next blessings were our three children. Steve who was very special because he was our first then Kala who was very special because she was our only daughter and Stewart who was very special because he was the youngest. They brought joy and tears but much, much more joy than tears. Each one blessing our lives many times over. Oh, how we loved these children. They made life fun and exciting. I am thankful the Lord trusted us enough to give them to us to look after and enjoy.
Next Steve brought Adel into our lives and she was such a blessing. Kala brought Graham who didn’t stay long but after his death she brought Jerry into our lives and they were both such blessings. Stewart brought Nancy who didn’t stay long but blessed us with two grandsons.
Our four grandchildren were the joy of old age. Jason, number one grandson, brought us Kristen. Lacey, our only granddaughter brought John and then there was Seth and Zach. Our two great grandchildren, Ian and Avery. How blessed can you get?
Last but not least is all you my dear friends. Each of you blessed my life in some special way. I want to thank all you for being here to support my family. My physical life is over but I am doing well in Heaven. God bless each and every one of you.
Love Shirley
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