James Nelson Shirley, 93, of Overland Park, died at home Saturday, August 1. He was born in Bogard, Missouri, on August 2, 1922. Jim was an electrical engineer, a horseman, and a solver of problems. He served in the Signal Corps during World War II. After graduating from the University of Kansas, he worked for two engineering firms and in 1968 founded his own company, Control Systems International. His work spanned technologies from programmable logic controllers to wireless automated control systems. After retiring, Jim returned to his boyhood love of horses. At the age of 88, he showed his three-year-old horse at the American Royal, being the oldest contestant with the youngest horse. In addition, he developed expertise in "resting after doing nothing." He built the house he and his wife, Faith Ann Shirley, have lived in for 66 years. He also designed and built a number of structures for his children: a prairie-style barn, a pagoda-style outdoor oven cover, and a mobile bunkhouse. In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his Irish Setter, Danny Boy; his children Kathleen Shirley Micken, Nelson Douglas Shirley, Dennise Marie Badell, and Jamie Lynn Shirley; his grandchildren Christopher and Anthony Badell, Brad and Blaine Siebert, and Justus and Chunnan Goldstein-Shirley. He also had an avuncular relationship with his sons-in-law, Patrick Micken and Ramon Badell; his daughter-in-law Lori Kelly; his nieces and nephews and many others.

Services

A memorial service will be held at Overland Park Lutheran Church, 7810 W. 79th Street, Overland Park, KS 66204; Saturday, August 8 at 9:30 am.

Contributions

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sierra Club, Memorials, 85 2nd Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, or Overland Park Lutheran Church.