Shirley Ann Palmer Curry

On Sunday, November 29, 2020, Shirley Ann Palmer Curry, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, of Jefferson City, passed away at the age of 82. Four days later she was followed in death by her loving husband, John M. Curry, of 26 years. A private family service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Memorial Funeral Home. Services will be live streamed on our Facebook page at Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory, and Memorial Park Cemetery/Columbia.

Shirley Ann Palmer Curry was born August 31, 1938 in Columbia, Missouri to Ray Earl Palmer and Mary Ruth Ballenger Palmer. She was baptized at the First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ. She attended schools in Columbia and is a graduate of Hickman High School. On November 2, 1957, Shirley married John Old, of Columbia. They had three children. While attending the University of Missouri-Columbia, she was a librarian assistant, and temporary Acting Librarian at the School of Journalism Library. She was also named “Miss National Newspaper Week”. She worked as a secretary in the Missouri House of Representatives. She worked with then Senator Roger B. Wilson in the Missouri Senate, and in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office as Administrative Assistant to Lieutenant Governor Wilson, from which she later retired.

Shirley was a volunteer for her children’s schools and events, Daniel Boone Little League Team Mother, plus several charitable organizations. In Shirley’s teen years and early twenties she modeled for several clothing stores in Columbia and made television commercials. Later in life she became an avid watercolor artist, and enjoyed decorating, gardening, traveling, and cooking for her family. She was an active member of the Jefferson City Country Club where she played golf and enjoyed weekly card games with her friends. She was a devoted mother and grandmother whose pride and joy were her children and grandchildren.

On March 17, 1994, she married John Michael Curry in a beach ceremony in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She was followed in death by her husband, December 3, 2020.

She is survived by her children, Stacy A. Kneibert (Philip) of Leawood,KS, and Jeff D. Old, of Columbia, MO; brother, William Palmer of Anderson, SC; five grandchildren, Ashley and Ryan Old, Nicholas and Elizabeth Kneibert, and Joshua K. Old; seven step-children, Shannon Curry, of NM, Sean Curry (Cindy) of Dallas,TX, Patrick Curry (Meredith), of Jefferson City, MO, Tim Curry, Lenexa, KS, Kathleen Haslag (Dan), Jefferson City, MO, Mary Rackers (Tom), Jefferson City, MO, and Sheila Curry O’Neal (John), Overland Park, KS; fourteen step-grandchildren, Bret and Megan Curry, Courtney and Danielle Rackers, Erin, Jacob, Madeline and Nicholas Haslag, Katie, Anne and J.P. Curry, Molly, Jack and Irene Curry, Emma and Johnny O’Neal. Also surviving are five nieces and six step- great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her son, Mark S. Old, her parents, two brothers, Jerry Palmer and Jim Palmer, and one nephew, Michael Palmer.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, American Heart Association, and Alivingtribute.org.