Shirley E. Westervelt

Shirley Elaine Westervelt (née Beasley) of Independence, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in her apartment at Tiffany Springs Senior Living. Visitation will take place Wednesday, September 16, at 1 p.m. at Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home in Independence, Missouri. Funeral services will immediately follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Salvation Army or your favorite animal rescue organization. Blue was Shirley’s favorite color. If you’re able to attend the visitation or funeral, please wear any shade of her favorite color.

Born on March 23, 1935, in Columbus, Kansas, Shirley grew up on a farm just outside of town. Because her mother was one of five children, family gatherings were a constant in Shirley’s childhood. Active in 4-H, Shirley also played the French horn in the school band and was a member of the Pep Club. She graduated from Cherokee County Community High School in 1953. On April 1, 1955, after six weeks of courting, she married John Westervelt. Married for over fifty years, Shirley always said they never did figure out who was fooling who.

From the mid-1950s to the early ’70s, Shirley worked as a secretary before becoming a word processing supervisor in the late ’70s. The last chapter of her career was working as a legal secretary from the mid-1980s until her retirement in 2016 at age 81. Shirley clearly loved to work!

She was an avid fan of both the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. She loved Roy Rogers and George Strait. Because she didn’t like silence, Shirley always had the radio on, tuned to one of her favorite country stations. She enjoyed a glass of Southern Comfort on occasion but hated champagne and called asparagus a weed. Shirley was always there with a funny non sequitur or an old country saying, whether she knew they were funny or not.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her parents, Floyd and Martha. She is survived by her children, Tom and Elaine; and their respective spouses, Billie and Michael; and her grandchildren, Brianna and Dylan. Grandma’s hugs will be missed.

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements by Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home in Independence, Missouri