Shirley A. Utley, age 74 of Joplin, Mo., passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Freeman Hospital following an illness.

Shirley was born on March 7, 1943 in Long Beach, Ca., the daughter of James and Virginia (Jones) Stirling. She moved to the area in 1970 and along with her husband Bill opened the Joplin Diesel Service, retiring in 2015.

She married William C. Utley Sr. on December 6, 1964, he preceded her in death on February 10, 2017. Additional survivors include one son; William “Bill” Utley, Jr. and wife Beth of Joplin, three daughters; Rita Reding of Richmond, Va., Dawn Heinen and husband Rick of Lamar, Mo., Virginia “Genny” Alderman and husband Harold of Joplin, a foster son whom they considered one of their own children, Kent Arehart of Joplin, a brother, Dick Stirling of Lake Havasu, Az., sixteen grandchildren; Krystyn and husband Michael, Felicia, Tiffini and husband Austin, Brittany, Brooke, Brodie, Michael and wife Whitney, Mandy and husband Jeremy, P.J. and wife Jackie, Emily and husband Chase, Ethan, Scarlett, Adrian, Brandi, Daniel, Corona, fifteen great-grandchildren, and over 200 children and grandchildren that Bill and Shirley have fostered and adopted throughout the years. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Bill.

Funeral services have been scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Monday evening at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Mark Heiskell, Minister, will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

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