Shirley Louise Kinman

Shirley Louise Kinman, 87, passed away in peace on Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 and went to be with her Lord. She spent her last four blessed days at home with family and friends, a time filled with love and affection. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Leroy, her sister Rhea, her sons Brent and Mark, daughters-in-law Sharon and Beth Kinman, and grandchildren Michele, David, and Stephanie Kinman. Her parents, Roger and Hazel Sherburne, her brother Keith, and sister Jean predeceased her. Shirley was the third child of Roger and Hazel Sherburne, and a native of Scobey, Montana. After graduating from Scobey High School in 1946 and working briefly at the Daniels County Courthouse, she ventured to Los Angeles, California and began a career at B. F. Goodrich. By chance one day she noticed an advertisement from American Airlines in the Wall Street Journal; her heart was stirred, she went to an interview and was offered a job as a stewardess along with its attendant adventures, thus beginning an affiliation with American that lasted for decades. While based in Dallas for American, she providentially met the love of her life, Leroy. He and three other servicemen were based in Waco but had rented an apartment one floor above Shirley and two other flight attendants for their days on leave. One night the ladies objected to the loud party being hosted by the men upstairs. One of the stewardesses went up, demanding the overly loud soldiers turn down the volume, explaining, “we have a flight in the morning.” Leroy later asked who had been at the door, and the answer came, “I don't know, but she sure was mad, and she sure was pretty.” Before long, Leroy and Shirley actually met, began to date, and got engaged. They were married in Pasadena, California on July 28, 1956. Shirley retired from American Airlines (stewardesses were not permitted to be married in those days), and nine months later their first son, Brent Rogers, was born. Mark William followed in 1960. Shirley was active in the community over the years. She served as co-President (and later ‘Life Member') of the Roark Elementary PTA (along with Leroy), Secretary of the Ferguson Junior High School PTA, Treasurer of the PTA at Sam Houston High School, and Fifth, then First, Vice-President of the Arlington City Council of PTA. She was a team captain for the Tarrant County United Fund Crusade of Hope. She also served as Treasurer, then First Vice-President of the Mid-Cities Kiwi Club (for former American Airlines stewardesses). She returned to American Airlines as a volunteer in the 1980s, then served as financial secretary for Aldersgate United Methodist Church and, finally, worked alongside Leroy for Petrosurance Insurance Company in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After the 9/11 attacks, she left Petrosurance and retired altogether. Shirley was full of life. She left a Montana farm to live in Los Angeles, then left a satisfying career with B. F. Goodrich to fly in airplanes. She travelled widely, including an early trek from LA to New Orleans, Miami, and Cuba, and later adventures in Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, England and Europe. She embraced a challenge: She was one of the first to use and publicly demonstrate the wonders of the microwave oven, she parasailed south of the border, and, most daunting of all, she raised two sons even as Leroy was occasionally away on business travel or for the Air Force. She attended countless sporting events, helped with Cub Scouts, played innumerable games of bridge, and was a gracious host at home. In 1998 Shirley was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder. She was given 3-5 years to live. She sought out various physicians, and was introduced to Dr. Karel Dicke of the Arlington Cancer Center in Arlington, Texas. Along with mom's inherent grit, Dr. Dicke and his associate Sylvia Hanks combined faith, modern medicine, and ingenuity to prolong Shirley's life for many years – years filled with joy, friendships, and grandchildren. Similarly, Dr. John Warner of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School performed a singularly delicate surgical procedure that saved her life and added many happy days. We are forever grateful for their role in extending her later years. Shirley was a devoted wife and mother, a loyal and loving friend, and an extraordinarily wise counselor. We mourn her death yet praise God that our lives have been so enriched by hers. We are the better for knowing her, and the world is a little better for her having walked among us. “An excellent wife is rare and more valuable than jewels; her husband trusts her, and her children called her ‘blessed'” (Proverbs 31). We look forward to seeing her again, and forever, by the grace of God shown through Jesus Christ. Shirley, Mom: we love you, always and forever. Shorter obit: Shirley Louise Kinman, 87, passed away in peace on Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 and went to be with her Lord. She spent her last four blessed days at home with family and friends, a time filled with love and affection. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Leroy, her sister Rhea, her sons Brent and Mark, daughters-in-law Sharon and Beth Kinman, and grandchildren Michele, David, and Stephanie Kinman. She was predeceased by her parents, Roger and Hazel Sherburne, her brother Keith, and sister Jean. Shirley was a native of Scobey, Montana. After graduating from Scobey High School in 1946 and working briefly at the Daniels County Courthouse, she ventured to Los Angeles, California and began a career at B. F. Goodrich. By chance one day she noticed an advertisement from American Airlines in the Wall Street Journal; her heart was stirred, she went to an interview and was offered a job as a stewardess along with its attendant adventures, thus beginning an affiliation with American that lasted for decades. While based in Dallas for American, she providentially met the love of her life, Leroy. They were married in Pasadena, California on July 28, 1956. Nine months later their first son, Brent Rogers, was born. Mark William followed in 1960. Shirley was active in the community over the years, serving in leadership roles in PTAs, the United Fund, and her beloved Mid-Cities Kiwi Club (for former American Airlines stewardesses). She returned to American Airlines as a volunteer in the 1980s, then worked at Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Petrosurance Insurance Company in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Shirley was full of life. She left a Montana farm to live in Los Angeles, then left a satisfying career with B. F. Goodrich to fly in airplanes. She travelled widely, including an early trek from LA to New Orleans, Miami, and Cuba, and later adventures in Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, England and Europe. She embraced a challenge: She was one of the first to use and publicly demonstrate the wonders of the microwave oven, she parasailed south of the border, and, most daunting of all, she raised two sons even as Leroy was occasionally away on business travel or for the Air Force. She attended countless sporting events, helped with Cub Scouts, played innumerable games of bridge, and was a gracious host at home. In 1998 Shirley was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder. She was given 3-5 years to live. She was introduced to Dr. Karel Dicke of the Arlington Cancer Center in Arlington, Texas. Along with mom's inherent grit, Dr. Dicke and his associate Sylvia Hanks combined faith, modern medicine, and ingenuity to prolong Shirley's life for many years. Similarly, Dr. John Warner of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School performed a singularly delicate surgical procedure that saved her life and added many happy days. We are forever grateful for their role in extending her later years. Shirley was a devoted wife and mother, a loyal and loving friend, and an extraordinarily wise counselor. We mourn her death yet praise God that our lives have been so enriched by hers. We are the better for knowing her, and the world is a little better for her having walked among us. “An excellent wife is rare and more valuable than jewels; her husband trusts her, and her children called her ‘blessed'” (Proverbs 31). We look forward to seeing her again, and forever, by the grace of God shown through Jesus Christ. Shirley, Mom: we love you, always and forever. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233