Shirley Kepley (88) of Ingraham

Shirley Sue (McKinney) Kepley, age 88 of rural Ingraham Illinois, passed away peacefully 5:44 P.M. Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Services celebrating Shirley’s life will be held at 11:00 AM – Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Headyville Christian Church in rural Dietrich, Illinois, with Keith Kepley and Carroll Ross officiating. Burial will be in the Headyville Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM- Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. In loving memory of Shirley, memorials may be made to Headyville Christian Church. Arrangements are under the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left by clicking here.

Shirley was born on December 6, 1934, in South Muddy township, in rural Jasper County Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Hazel (Chesnut) McKinney. Shirley graduated from Newton Community High School in 1952. Shirley married Lowell Kepley on December 5, 1953. He preceded her in death on August 30, 2022, after 68 years of marriage. Shirley was an active lifelong member of Headyville Christian Church. Shirley started driving a school bus for Ingraham Grade School in 1970 and continued driving for Jasper County Unit #1 until she retired in 1995. She was one of the first female bus drivers. Shirley was a farm wife, driving tractors, hauling grain, and assisting on the farm in many roles. Her passion was her yard and she spent many hours mowing and planting flowers making her yard beautiful. Throughout her life, her faith and family were most important to her.

Shirley is survived by: Children - Danny (Debbie) Kepley of Ingraham, Illinois, Greg (Carol) Kepley of Ingraham, Illinois, Linda (Dale) Probst of Wheeler, Illinois, Lana (Danny) Mahaffey of Wheeler, Illinois, and Doug (Joan) Kepley of Monticello, Illinois; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; Sister-in-law - Virginia McKinney of Dieterich, Illinois.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her brother, Jerry McKinney.