Shirley Irene Buffenbarger, age 91, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home on September 19, 2026.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3, 1935, to Wesley and Irene Millard, Shirley lived in Brixey, Missouri, before settling in Springfield. She attended Study Junior High and graduated from Senior High School. On February 26, 1953, she married Donald Buffenbarger in Springfield, and together they spent 59 cherished years before his passing in 2012. They were blessed with five children.
Shirley worked for many years at Lilly Tulip and later held sales positions at Sears, Heer’s, and Walmart. When she wasn’t working outside the home, she lovingly babysat numerous neighborhood children.
A faithful member of New Start Church, Shirley loved the Lord. She enjoyed spending her mornings on the back porch with a cup of coffee, admiring her flowers and watching the birds. Above all, she treasured time spent with her family and attending family reunions.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Buffenbarger; her parents, Wesley and Irene Millard; two sons who passed away as toddlers, Bobby Joe and Dudley; and her beloved son-in-law, John Rogers.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Buffenbarger and grandson Chris Rogers; her daughter Mara Teeslink and son-in-law Doug; grandchildren Shawn Triplett, and Alyse Teeslink-Allen and her husband Tyler; her son Daniel Buffenbarger and daughter-in-law Teresa; grandchildren Andrew Buffenbarger and his fiancée Colleen, and John Buffenbarger and his wife Maddie; as well as eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, September 22, at 5:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow on Wednesday, September 23, at 1:00 p.m. Both services will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, with burial immediately following at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens North.
In memory of Shirley, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers.