Shirley Lue Knox, 80, of Harrisonville, Missouri, died Friday, August 30, 2013 at her home in Harrisonville. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 3, at the Atkinson Funeral Home. Burial in Wills Cemetery, Peculiar, Missouri. Contributions may be made to Grace Hospice.

Shirley was born April 7, 1933 in Harrisonville, Missouri, a daughter of Finis and Grace V. (Benjamin) Harper. She was a lifelong Harrisonville resident and was a 1951 graduate of Harrisonville High School. She was united in marriage to Ralph Knox on May 27, 1951 in Harrisonville.

Shirley was active with the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Optimist Club in Harrisonville. She had worked as a tax preparer and bookkeeper and was a school bus driver for many years. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and horses.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Finis Harper. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ralph Knox, of the home; a son, David Knox and his wife, Cathy, Lee's Summit, Missouri; two daughters, Sondra McCrary and husband, Glen, Belton, Missouri, and Crystal Whisenhunt and husband, Jason, Harrisonville; special Angels, Debbie Robledo and Sheila Clevenger; a brother, Jack Harper and wife, Jan, Harrisonville; and a sister, Sharon Wallace, Kansas City, Missouri; five grandchildren, Tracy Dinges, Charla Hetherington, Ryan Gerster, Dawn Dussetschleger,and Jami Dussetschleger; two great-grandchildren, Hannah Dinges and Anne-Marie Hetherington and many nieces and nephews.