Shirley Willadean (Steele) Talbert, 87, of Greentop, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri.

The daughter of the late Alonzo Louis and Jesse Pauline (Tuttle) Steele, she was born May 11, 1936 in Kirksville, Missouri. On December 18, 1953 in Kirksville, Shirley was united in marriage to Lowell Talbert. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by one brother, Alonzo Steele; one sister, Julia Mae Schilling; and her son-in-law, Curtis Snider.

Shirley is survived by her husband Lowell and they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage this coming December; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Lowella and Butch Long of Greentop, MO, Leonetta Snider of Queen City, MO; Lori and David Brewer of Bloomfield, IA, and Lana Purvis of Liberty, MO; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Shirley was a graduate from Kirksville High School. She spent several years at home to raise her daughters before going to work at Hollister Inc. She later was employed for Burroughs until going to work at Standard Register where she was employed until her retirement. Shirley enjoyed word search, solitary, crossword puzzles, gardening, canning, and was a great cook. She was very devoted to her family and loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many friends.

Shirley was Secretary of Fugate Cemetery for many years.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 2023 with family receiving friends from noon to 2:00 p.m. service time in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. Interment will follow the service at Fugate Cemetery in Greentop, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Farley, Leon Brewer, Jessie Brewer, Nathan Purvis, Lloyd Long, and Harley Dockery.

Memorial donations in memory of Shirley may be made to Fugate Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.