Shirley Mae Gunter was born to Jesse Josh Gunter and Eliza Scott Gunter on March 21,
1934, in Vian, Oklahoma. To the union, four girls and one boy were born. Shirley was the
youngest daughter. The Gunter family moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, when Shirley was young.
She was raised by hardworking parents in a loving home. Shirley attended elementary and high
school in Coffeyville. At a young age, Shirley exhibited a love for sewing, upholstery and art work.

Shirley met and married Isaac Beans on January 17, 1958, in Coffeyville. Isaac moved his
family to Wichita, Kansas in 1963, where he managed several gas stations and later served as a
Reverand at Mizpah Baptist Church, where the family attended worship service for many years.
Shirley was a loving wife, a caring mother of ten children (7 girls and 3 boys) and a dependable
and trustworthy confidante to her friends. She was a homemaker for many years while her
children were in school. She was very involved with her grandchildren during their school days, as well.

Shirley took a part-time job at Brown's Grill once her children started school. She later
took a job at Langdon Manufacturing Company, where she was able to use her sewing skills.
Later in life Shirley enrolled in vocational classes, where she studied pottery, ceramic, and glass design.

Christmas was Shirley's favorite holiday. It gave her great joy to go from
house to house to redecorate Christmas trees to her own personal liking. She would leave you
in amazement with the way she magically changed trees for the better. She had a zest for life
and was a shining light to everyone she encountered. Shirley never met a stranger. Her witty
attitude brought constant laughter to these she talked to. She was also an enthusiastic, fun
loving, and devoted mother-in-law to all her sons-in-law and one daughter-in-law. Shirley was a
faithful member of Living Word Christian Center under the pastorship of Pastors Rita and Curtis
Fisher until her untimely death.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memories: her only surviving brother, Lewis (Samp) Gunter
of Coffeyville, KS, all ten children: Connie Wells (Allister), Donna Rowe, Rita Fisher (Curtis), June
Smith, Walter Beans (Brittnay), Lewis Beans, Arbura Peters (Kenneth), Patricia Newby, all of
Wichita, KS, Alvin Gunter of Coffeyville, KS, and Shirley Beans-Jackson (Norman) of Irving, TX, 29
grandchildren, many great & great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins
and friends.
Shirley was proceeded in death by her father: Josh Gunter, mother: Eliza Gunter,
husband: Isaac Beans, sisters: Vetrual Holt, Levoter (Bill) Johnson, and Rosanna (Modess)
Shobe, and special friend: James Eddie Evans.