Shirley Jean Laber

Shirley was born July 18, 1927, in Atchison, Kansas to John Jefferson and Agusta Pearl (Berry) Shrout. After high school, Shirley would move to Kansas City to live with her older sister and would get a job with Emery Bird and Thayer. Her sister, Betty, would set her up on a blind date, which would turn out to be her future husband, Norman.

They would marry on June 8, 1946, after Norman’s return from military service during WWII, and together they would start their family. They enjoyed jitterbugging and playing cards. Shirley would be a stay-at-home mom until later in life when she enjoyed her time working in numerous local elementary schools within the cafeteria for several years. Her family recalls her making the food from scratch and receiving the extra helpings when she worked at their school.

Norman and Shirley, along with their kids, liked to travel to Atchison to listen to country western music on the weekends. They bought a travel trailer and made many trips to Branson where they joined Treasure Lake Campground. Activities at the campground included fishing, cards, meeting new friends, music, and feeding the ducks. They would also make many trips to Colorado to see their youngest daughter and grandchildren. Other hobbies Shirley enjoyed doing were baking, biking, aerobics, and word searches.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Norman C. Laber on September 1, 2017; her parents, John Jefferson and Agusta Pearl (Berry) Shrout; her siblings, John, Betty, and Si.

Survivors include her daughters, Debra Kay (James L.) Frevert, and Sherrie Lynne Laber; her grandchildren, Danielle M. Lee, Brendan T. Laber, and Caitlin R. Laber; her great grandsons, Dacotah H. and Raiden J. Lee.