Shirley Anne Phillips, 77, of Montrose, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at her home. A memorial visitation was held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.  

Shirley was born on September 5, 1948, in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of David and Teddy (DeShazer) Zeller. She lived in Independence, MO, before moving to Harrisonville. Shirley was united in marriage to Dale " Roach" Phillips on March 25, 1977, in Harrisonville, with the ceremony officiated by her father, Pastor David Zeller. They made their home in Harrisonville before moving to rural Montrose in 1995. 

Shirley worked as a school bus driver for the East Lynne and Harrisonville school districts. She loved traveling with her husband, Dale, to places such as Mexico, Central America, and Colorado. She also enjoyed spending time in her woodworking shop, where she built birdhouses, game boards, and many other projects. Some of her greatest joys were fishing and exploring the woods with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shirley took tremendous pride in being a "Master Gardener." She had such a gift for gardening that people often joked she could plant a rock and make it grow into a beautiful flower bed. 

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Dale "Roach" Phillips; her parents, David and Teddy Zeller; her brother, Danny Zeller; and her granddaughter, Jessey Myrtle. She is survived by her children: Brian (Stacey) Myrtle of Butler, MO; Wendy (Don) Turner of Wynnewood, Oklahoma; Kelly Tarwater of Archie, MO; Jay (Kellie) Waters of Butler, MO; and her sister, Betty McClurg, Lansing, Kansas. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Cody (Aerial) Myrtle, Samantha (Sabastian) Jones, Jayme McElwain (Caden), and Seth Turner (Melayna); her great-grandchildren: Huntlee, Bennett, Layla, Grant, Veda, Louis, and Abigail; as well as, numerous other relatives and friends.