Shirley Belle Needels

Shirley Hamilton Needels passed away on February 28th, 2024 in Kansas City, MO. Shirley was born in Pleasanton, KS on March 17, 1941. Her loving parents were Ralph and Evelyn Hamilton. She attended school in Pleasanton and graduated from Prescott Kansas High School in 1959 and then attended Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS. She was a trombone player in the high school and college bands and considered music education as a career. Shirley was highly active in high school and 4-H. She was also a graduate of the Patricia Stevens Finishing School for Models in Memphis. She attended church in both Pleasanton and Prescott, and accepted Christ when she was nine years old, growing in faith her whole life.

On June 25, 1961, she was married to the late Charles Phillips of Prescott and in 1966 they had one son, Craig Hamilton Phillips, of whom she was most proud. Shirley worked as a graphic artist in Ft Scott. KS; Kansas City, MO; San Diego, CA; Kingsville, TX; Memphis, TN; Wichita, KS; Emporia, KS; and Olathe, KS, retiring in 1995 after a 36-year rewarding career. She also assisted the owner of Jumpin' Catfish Restaurant for seventeen years.

In 1993 she married the late Rev. Dr. David Flude, a Methodist pastor. Together they served a church in Raytown and carried on missions work on a worldwide scale as a part of an organization they founded, Missions Ministry International. They traveled to many countries on mission trips and Shirley visited a total of fifty-five different countries both on mission and personal trips. She traveled to South Africa 19 times as a part of mission work.

Shirley was married to Bill Needels in 2008 and they celebrated fifteen happy years of marriage together sharing many exciting adventures. She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Evelyn Hamilton, her late husband Charles Phillips and her late husband David Flude. She is survived by her son Craig of Olathe, husband Bill, stepdaughters Joanna Pitcher(Dale) of Wichita, Christie Mead of Overland Park, Cindy Bulson(Darryl) of Kansas City and stepson Craig Needels(Mary) of San Antonio and step grandchildren Zach Pitcher (Laury), Maddi Pitcher (Terrence), Bristol Pitcher, Mason Mead(Angel), Abbie Bulson, Madison Mead and Emma Bulson of the Kansas City area, Ty(Stacy) Needels of Lee's Summit and Courtney(Jordan) Nelson of San Antonio and step great grandchildren Liam, Kayson, TJ, Kaydan, Rhett and Maren. She also leaves her aunt Nancy Cobertson, nieces Patty Riggs, Sherry Taylor, Cathy Bishop, and Julie Bishop.

Visitation will be held at College Church of the Nazarene from 1:30pm to 2:15pm on Sunday, March 3rd, followed by a memorial service at 2:15pm. Burial will take place in Littell Cemetery, Pleasanton, KS on Sunday with a graveside service.


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