She was a hard worker and high achiever. She earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education, served as church organist and sat on many church committees, and was an award-winning artist and Camp Fire Girls Leader. For many years she was a volunteer Braille transcriber and employed as a teacher of special-needs children.
Shirley is best described as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, teacher, witty lady, musician and artist.
She is preceded in death by husband of 28 years Frank E. Koenig; infant son, Douglas Koenig; brother and World War II Veteran, Jim Claypool; and sister, P.J. Stump. She later married Lotus Sanders who also preceded her in death.
Shirley is survived by son, Steve (Merrie) Koenig; daughter, Sue Pray; grandchildren Matt (Kendall) Pray, Daniel (Laura) Pray, and Amanda (Mitch) Guthrie; and great-grandchildren, Trystan Pray, T. Max Pray, Ramsey Pray, and Payton Guthrie.
A brief visitation will be held at Resthaven Mortuary on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at Resthaven, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209. Burial will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.
The family wishes to offer special thanks to Meadowlark Hills of Manhattan, KS, Crossroads Hospice of Kansas City, MO and Norterre Senior Living of Liberty, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in her memory to Special Olympics Kansas at https://www.facebook.com/donate/761397278130051/?fundraiser_source=external_url or by mailing a check to Special Olympics, 3153 W. Maple St., Wichita, KS 67213. Please be sure to note that the donation is in memory of Shirley Sanders.
