Shirley Catherine Brown, 74, Peculiar, Missouri, died Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at her home. Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2012 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.

Shirley was born October 3, 1937 in Braymer, Missouri, the daughter of Archie Lloyd and Juanita May (McElwee) Kavanaugh. She was a graduate of Braymer High School. She married George Oliver Brown on July 3, 1968 in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Shirley worked for Safeway Foods as a floral designer before retiring. Her hobbies included sewing, traveling, gardening, fishing and her horses. She loved her family and friends, most of all, and spending time with her sister, her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great happiness.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Thomas Lynn Mathews and her husband, George, on November 19, 2007. She is survived by six daughters, Patricia Ann Thornton, Peculiar, MO, Vickie Mense (Dave), Shawnee, KS, Pam Mathews, Lenexa, KS, Susan Bunse (Mike), Crosby, MO, Cindy Kenschaft, (Bob), Overland Park, KS and Sara Thayer, (Nick), Macon, MO; one brother, Archie Ray Kavanaugh (Joyce), Gladstone, MO; one sister, Janice LeStourgeon (Dan), Kidder, MO; 11 grandchildren, Michael Mathews, Josie Jones, Alex Baylie, Nicole Fanning, Kara Stucki, Levi White, Kyle Thompson, Reid Thompson, Kaitlin Bunse, Jennifer Parks and Travis Bunse and 7 great-grandchildren.