Shirley Virdon

“Grandmother” as she was lovingly called by all her grandchildren and great-grands, Shirley LaVerne Shemwell Virdon, 93, of Springfield, departed this life peacefully at home with her family by her side on Saturday, March 16, 2024 to be reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, William “Bill” Virdon, whom she missed terribly since his passing in November, 2021.

Shirley was born Aug. 27, 1930, to Clyde and Trulla (Hudson) Shemwell in Neelyville, Missouri, where she lived until she left to attend Southeast Missouri State College (now University). She graduated from Neelyville in 1947 and from SEMO in 1951 with a Bachelor’s in Education.

Her first teaching position was at West Plains High School where her students introduced her to Bill Virdon, an up and coming professional baseball player from West Plains whose maternal grandfather coincidently lived in the Lone Hill area of Butler County. It was love at first sight, and they were married six weeks later Nov. 17, 1951. Their marriage was to last 70 years!

Shirley and Bill regularly attended the annual Neelyville alumni reunions and were among the Neelyville fans in attendance when the Lady Tigers basketball won the state championship in March, 2018 at Springfield.

Shirley was the epitome of the perfect baseball wife, and developed numerous long-term friendships across the country during Bill’s tenure as a MLB player, coach and manager with the Cardinals, Pirates, Yankees, Astros, and Expos, which she continued until her passing.

She loved traveling to spring training every year (with girls in tow) and renewing the friendships she had missed during the baseball off-season. When the girls’ school was out each spring, they would all travel to the location where Bill was playing, coaching, or managing for the summer. They would then travel back to Springfield in time for school to start in the fall. After the girls were all out of high school, she would spend most of the baseball season with Bill. Even after Bill retired from managing, they would still go to spring training each February where he would serve as an instructor.

In addition to her baseball life, where she was active in the Pinch Hitters charitable organization, Shirley was active in numerous other local charitable and civic organizations. She loved being the matriarch of her family and especially enjoyed large family get-togethers. She definitely loved her family, and they all loved her!

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; and her brother, Ron Shemwell. She is survived by her three daughters, Deborah Lutes (Gary) of Springfield, Linda Holmes (William) of Springfield, and Lisa Brown (Kevin) of Rogersville; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. A big thanks goes to the Rev. David Jerome and his wife, Kathy, for their unwavering support and devotion to our mother and grandmother in the last several years. She loved you both like her own family!

Arrangements are being handled by Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home (gormanscharf.com). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Shirley’s memory to the Shirley and Bill Virdon endowed scholarships at Southeast Missouri State University, or a charity of the donor’s choice.