Shirley Lynn Spangler passed away peacefully in hospice care on October 14, 2023 surrounded by her children. She was born on September 8th, 1946 in Winfield Kansas to Wayne and Betty (Crawford) Grant.

She attended Stevenson Grade School and graduated from Winfield High School in 1964.  She then entered the William-Newton Memorial School of Nursing, graduating in 1967.

Shirley married Gary Ray Spangler on June 14, 1969 in Winfield, Kansas.  They lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for the first year of their marriage while Gary attended Nuclear Medicine School.  They moved to Dodge City, Kansas in 1970 and their daughter Michelle Lyn was born in 1971. Their son Ryan Scott was born in 1977.  Shirley and Gary decided to build a family home in Ingalls, KS, which took several years for Gary to construct as he worked on it during evenings and weekends when he was off work. The home was completed in 1984. For her part, Shirley made their house a home, always having a delicious meal on the table and welcoming Ryan's buddies over for a bowl of her famous chili on a moment's notice.  The family enjoyed vacations to Branson and travel to spend time with extended family on both sides.  Shirley also loved attending ball games at Ingalls, music, demolition derbies, and attending dinner theater productions in Dodge City.

Shirley practiced nursing at Fort Dodge Soldiers Home, Garden Valley Retirement Village and at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City for 38 years where her specialty was Med-Surg nursing.  Shirley was a living testament to St. Catherine Hospital's core values: Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, Spirituality, Imagination and Excellence.

Shirley was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Garden City where she served as a Parish Nurse, participated in their card ministry, co-chaired the Builders of Hope Cancer Support Group and participated in the Circles of Poverty Program. She was also a member of ESA Sorority, the VFW, American Nurses Association, and District 8 Nursing Association.

Shirley also loved serving her community in other capacities. She enjoyed visiting people in long term care facilities.  She was a volunteer for both the CASA program and the Kansas Guardianship program. At one time she served on the board of the Emmaus House, which helps the homeless by addressing food insecurity, providing warm beds and safe environments.  She was a Certified Volunteer Long Term Care Ombudsman, providing quality assurance oversight for nursing home residents.

Being a hospice volunteer was one of her primary areas of service. Due to her love, support and compassion, hospice had many patients who were able to remain in their homes for their final days surrounded by their family and friends. Shirley provided support, companionship and dignity to the patients and families being served by hospice.  In her personal life, Shirley had the honor of caring for her own father through his final months, weeks and days which felt like a full circle moment.

Shirley's greatest joy, however, were her three grandchildren that she loved, nurtured, adored and thoroughly enjoyed.  Those grandchildren are Brendon Ray Spangler, and twins Brandon Allen Pryor and Jordan Hayley-Lyn Pryor.  When they were little she enjoyed hugs, reading books, baking, going to the movies, going to the zoo, going out for ice cream, shopping trips to Target, playing board games and card games with the children and making the holidays magical in the way that only she could. Whatever special interests they had, she would look for ways to nurture and encourage those interests, making each one individually feel seen, heard, supported, and loved. They are all now 20 years old, and she always said she wanted to live long enough to see all three graduate from high school and go on to college and/or work, and she was able to do just that, which filled her heart with joy and peace of mind.

If you knew Shirley, you know that she brought joy, light and love to those she touched.  She loved sending out cards and handwritten letters (a lost art form) to everyone she knew.  Every birthday, every holiday, every sympathy card, every get well soon and every graduation.  Sometimes she didn't even need a reason.  She will be remembered for her engaging smile, sparkling blue eyes, sense of humor, friendly personality, compassionate spirit, and unwavering desire to help people in need.  May she rest in peace having lived a happy and productive life and being a wonderful mother to Michelle and Ryan, an amazing grandma to her "three cubs," a good friend to her neighbors and her community. She loved her family and her friends and made a difference everywhere she went.  A life well lived and a legacy of caring.

Survivors include her daughter, Michelle Pryor and husband Craig of Park City; son Ryan Spangler and wife Michelle of Garden City; grandchildren Brendon Spangler, Brandon Pryor and Jordan Pryor, a brother Larry Grant and wife Linda of Arkansas City; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Betty (Crawford) Grant; and her loving husband, Gary Spangler.

The family thanks the hospice staff and volunteers and the staff of Garden Valley Retirement Center for the excellent care she received

Memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Garden City on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Mary Akins presiding.  Burial will follow at the Cimarron Cemetery, Cimarron.  There will be no visitation as cremation will take place. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine Hospital Hospice Program in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com. The service will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn-wGeD2GRE