Shirley Jean (Clay) Barnes, 85, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the University Missouri Medical Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Born March 19, 1941, in Shibleys Point, Missouri, Shirley was the daughter of the late Henry Eldon and Edna Lucillie (Young) Clay. On January 26, 1963, in Kirksville, Missouri, Shirley was united in marriage to Arthur Barnes who preceded her in death on January 5th, 2015. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Larry and Michael Clay, and her sister-in-law, Jinnie Clay.

Shirley is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Danny Barnes of Kirksville, MO, and Eugene and Jenifer Barnes of Edmond, OK; two brothers, Jerry Clay of Adair, MO, and Terry Clay of Kirksville, MO;
one sister, Imogene Becker of Newark, MO; six grandchildren, Caleb Barnes, Danny Barnes, Ashley Barnes (Heath M. Cary Sr), Holly Lynn Bell married to Nicholas Bell, Ethan Barnes, and Sydni Barnes, three great-grandchildren, Lezlie Brogan, April Cary, and Michael Cary; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Shirley was a graduate from Kirksville High School with the Class of 1959. She was employed with McGraw Edison Company several years. She enjoyed sewing, raising flowers, gardening, and collecting Christmas bears.

It was Shirleys wish to be cremated, and family will meet with friends to celebrate her life from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home of Kirksville.