Shirley Ann Gard Howard was born in the midst of a Minneapolis, Minnesota blizzard on May 23, 1925, as one of the three daughters of Esmond Jacob Gard (1897) and Ruth Naomi Stewart Gard (1897). After Esmond's unexpected death in 1930, Shirley moved with her mother and sisters to Kansas where she has continued to reside. After her graduation from Iola High School (Kansas) in 1943, Shirley enrolled in pre-nursing at Emporia State College. There she met and Bill (William) Lewis Howard of Emporia, Kansas. They were married July 4, 1944. Their son William Gard Howard was born in 1945. Christine Howard Broers was born in 1948.

In 1952, Shirley returned to work as an office assistant. After multiple moves and changes in employment, she eventually joined the staff at the University of Kansas Medical Center where she worked almost 40 years. At age 78, she retired as the Administrative Officer in Internal Medicine. Shirley travelled extensively with her husband Bill. They made about 15 trips to Switzerland. They also visited several other European countries as well as Africa. Shirley loved to walk, listen to music, collect commemorative dish-wares, and attend the symphony and theater. She was a volunteer at the WWI Museum in Kansas City and a member of Village Presbyterian Church. She was a member of PEO for over 70 years.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 72 years, daughter Christine Howard Broers, sister Betty Schmidt, three 3 granddaughters, one grandson, one great-granddaughter and 7 great-grandsons. Her son William Gard Howard and her sister Helen Harrison are deceased.

Celebration of Life Services

Shirley’s ashes will be interred in the Village Presbyterian Church’s columbarium.

Memorial Contributions

Memorials may be given to Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village , KS, 66208; WWI Memorial 2 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO 64108, PEO. Chapter AL, c/o Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203