Shirley Hyde

Shirley Jean Hyde, age 88 of Courtland, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2014. She was born in Courtland, Kansas at “Grandma’s House” the first born of twin girls on November 8, 1925 to J. Oran and Marguerite (Fritzinger) Hyde. She was preceded in death by her parents. She will be forever remembered by her twin sister Beverly and several cousins. The twins grew up in Courtland learning the importance of education. Their father taught them to play cribbage and they were able to count and add before they went to school. After graduating from Courtland High School with the Class of 1943, Shirley enrolled with Beverly at Kansas University in September 1943. It was war time and the campus looked more like a naval station than a college campus. The Navy took over the ballroom for a mess hall and they looked for “motherly” type gals to serve breakfast, lunch and supper. Shirley and Beverly and six other co-eds served the supper meal every evening. The Administration said it was the girls “patriotic” duty. It took five years to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.  They spent two and half years in Lawrence and two and half years at the Medical Center in Kansas City. There was no problem finding employment. Shirley worked in KU Medical Center for five years and then took a year to travel. She moved to Denver and the Rocky Mountains where she worked as a Registered Nurse until she retired. Traveling with her parents instilled a lifelong passion to travel as much of God’s beautiful world as one could accomplish. The many travels and cruises opened many horizons all over the world. In 1993 the twins returned to Courtland to enjoy a slower pace of life. Some of Shirley’s hobbies include a collection of antique cut glass dishes, not for use, but to gleam through the cabinet glass windows. She learned bead making and repairing jewelry. Shirley had her precious Chinese Chow Chow dogs and St. Peter at the Gates better have arrangement with “doggie heaven” so she can take them out for walks. She was an avid follower of the KU Jayhawks and their many pursuits. Music and cooking were also highlights of her life. Aging was unkind to Shirley as she developed Auricular Fibrillation till the time when God said “that’s enough” and called her to her eternal home early Wednesday morning.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 25, 2014 at the Covenant Church, Courtland, Kansas with Pastor Charles Peters officiating. Burial was in Balch Cemetery, Formoso, Kansas. Memorials may be made to the Shirley Hyde Memorial to be designated later. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas was in charge of these arrangements.