Shirley A Gosney

Shirley A Gosney 84, died Tuesday, November 12, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas.  She was born June 18, 1935 in to Fred and Dora (Stonebreaker) Bay.

She grew up on the family farm near Waverly, Kansas

Shirley had her first piano lesson at age 9, and by age 13 she was playing the piano at church.  This began a lifelong love of music and service to the church. Later in life after moving to Newton, Kansas, Shirley played piano and organ for the Foursquare church for 30 years.

After high school, her music teacher encouraged her to apply for college scholarships. She did and was awarded enough that she was able to attend and graduate Washburn University with a teaching degree in music. 

During her time in Topeka attending college, she worked a part-time job for the city.  This is where she met her husband Claude, the father to her three children, Julie, Kelly, and Brian. 

Her marriage to Claude saw them living in Topeka, St. Louis, and Arizona.  After moving back to Kansas to be near family with the children, Shirley dusted off her teaching certificate and went to work. 

Newton, Kansas would be the next stop where Shirley taught elementary music for 22 years before she retired.

Shirley had love music, reading, and crime drama shows.  Family was important to Shirley and enjoyed visits with her siblings, family, and friends.

She is survived by her daughters Kelly Wilkinson of Wichita, KS and Julie McCutcheon of Shawnee, KS; 3 brothers Roy, Bill and Chuck Bay; sister Ronda Hamilton and 5 grandchildren and 1 great child.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and one son Brian Gosney

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday November 18, 2019 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Becky Girard presiding.  Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery Newton.

Memorials are suggested to Harvey County Compassionate Friends in care of Petersen Funeral Home.