Shirley Ann King

Shirley Ann (Thiesse) King, 84, of Amarillo passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020 in Amarillo, Texas. Visitation is to be held from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road Chapel. Funeral service will take place at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 16, 2020 at Family Life Church with Pastor Robbie Ashlock officiating.

Shirley was born to Abner and Esther (Kruse) Thiesse on January 11, 1936 in Little Rock, Iowa. She attended and graduated from Little Rock School in 1953, where she participated in band, marching band and Glee Club. She met the love of her life Robert Jerome King and were married on October 29, 1954. To this marriage were born eight children; Evelyn, Phyllis, Joan, Douglas, Susan, Roger, Timothy and Brenda. Over the years they made their home in Sheldon, Iowa, Sioux City, Iowa, Orange County, Iowa and Denison, Iowa before moving to Amarillo, Texas in 1974. Shirley operated a licensed in home daycare for 34 years before retiring from that and going to work at Wienerschintzel then returning to a life of leisure in 2012.

Shirley was an avid cook and enjoyed having large family gatherings. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren attending many of their events over the years. Among many of the other things she enjoyed were bowling and BINGO! She was a member of Family Life Church attending Bible study and taking the Parking Lot Pride award 4 years in a row at the Holy Smokes Cook-off with the G-Ma Squad.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Robert, in 2011; her daughter, Phyllis in infancy; her grandson, Chad Freml; her parents, Abner and Esther Thiesse; her brothers, Delmar, Arnold and Ervin

Shirley is survived by her children; Evelyn Neumann (Wayne) of Charter Oak, Iowa, Joan Schurke (Keith) of Amarillo, Douglas King (Sara) of Amarillo, Susan Freml (Charley) of Glidden, Iowa, Roger King (Julie Ortega), Timothy King and Brenda Chandler of Amarillo; two sisters, Myrna Hocking of Florida and Kathryn Sackett (Jerry) of Minnesota; brother and sister-in-laws, Phillip King and Doris King of Oregon, Lucille Dennison and David King of Iowa; nineteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.