Shirley Kay Harmon

Shirley Kay Bell was born on November 25, 1935 at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Cedar Bluffs, Kansas.  Her parents were James R’Leigh Bell and Lucille Lydia Nemeth Bell.  Shirley graduated Herington High School in 1953.  Her dream was to become a hairdresser.  In high school Shirley had good grades.  She was a baton twirler and drum majorette with the band.  Shirley worked babysitting, at the Frigid Queen, and as a nurse’s aide.  Shirley has lived in Cedar Bluffs, Oberlin, Norton, Hays, Manhattan, Wichita, and Herington Kansas.  She has also lived in Kentucky, Tennessee, California, and Missouri.

            Shirley graduated from Venus Cosmetology School in Wichita in 1954.  She then married Donald Herpich on December 13, 1954.  Don served in the Army, and they lived in different places during that time.  Tom was born at Ft. Ord, Ca, and Kerry at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.  After discharge the couple lived on a farm in rural Herington.  Gene, Scott, and Lori arrived and completed their family.  Shirley was very happy raising her family on the farm.  Many good times were had working together as a family.  Church was very important to Shirley.  She and the children were baptized together at the First Christian Church.  Shirley realized her dream of being a cosmetologist.  She had her beauty shop in 5 different locations.  She had many happy clients and worked for nearly 40 years.  A favorite memory of Shirley’s was winning a red Ford Pinto car at a cosmetology convention in Wichita.

            Shirley and Lester Harmon were married on September 29, 1983 at the Christian Church in Herington.  Lester worked as a railroader and Shirley worked in her beauty shop.  Shirley and Lester kept very busy with their family.  Shirley was very talented at cooking, baking, sewing, home decorating, painting, and gardening.  Her cream pies were a special favorite of her family.

They took many memorable vacations and visited family, including Shirley’s brothers, James and Ken in California.  Shirley has visited Washington D.C. and had taken some RV trips to Texas and Mexico.

Shirley and Lester have been very blessed with 8 children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Shirley has spent lots of time enjoying her family and friends.  Her loving family includes, Lester Harmon of Topeka; Tom Herpich (Connie) of Burdick; Kerry Swinney (Ken) of Derby; Gene Herpich, deceased (Alfrieda) of Burdick, Scott Herpich (Kathy) of Herington; Lori Hughes (Art) of Wichita; brothers James Bell (Susan) of Santa Monica, CA; Kenneth Bell of Herington.  Stepchildren, Rick Harmon (Connie) of Basehor; Lesli Girard (Tim) of Topeka; and Kim Nikoliasen (Kerry) of St Louis, MO.  

Shirley passed away on July 2, 2022 at Brookdale Senior Living, Derby KS.  She was preceded in death by her son, Gene, and her parents.  Family and friends will gather to remember Shirley on Saturday, July 9^th at 10 am at the First Christian Church, Herington.  Funeral will follow at 11 am led by Pastor Shawn Baird.  She will be laid to rest in Sunset Hill Cemetery following the service.  Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Herington is serving the family.  Memorial contributions may be made in Shirley’s name directed to the First Christian Church, 15 S 1^st St, Herington, KS 67449, or Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, 3450 N Rock Rd, Bldg 200, Ste 213, Wichita, KS  67226, or be left with the funeral home.