Shirley Rochester

Shirley Rochester, 83, of Baldwin City, KS passed away April 17, 2023 at her home.

Shirley was born September 25, 1939 in Garnett, KS, the daughter of Loyd Everett Johnson and Pearl Arlene Parker. She grew up in Baldwin City graduating from Baldwin High School with the class of 1958.

On July 9, 1960 Shirley was united in marriage to Gary Rochester at the Wellsville Baptist Church, Wellsville, KS.  They shared sixty-two years of loving marriage.

Shirley worked for Hallmark Corporation as an executive assistant after high school.  Gary and Shirley owned and operated McMillan Oil Company from 1968 to 2007, running Bulk Fuel to farmers and Napa Auto Parts.  Shirley loved working with numbers and was happy to be the bookkeeper all those years.

Shirley was well known for her cookies.  She baked all kinds of cookies and was always making a batch. She loved having family over and visiting with them.  She was always up to talk to anyone; she truly never met a stranger.  She always was interested in meeting and getting to know new people.  She also loved maintaining her yard and flowers.  She would often be seen running around the property on her golf cart keeping things tidy.  She also loved to go fishing especially out on the boat with her son, Scott.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Loyd and Pearl Johnson and a brother, Gary Dale Johnson.

Shirley is survived by her husband Gary Rochester, Baldwin City, KS; two sons, Rick Rochester, Ottawa, KS, Scott Rochester and his wife, Shelly, Baldwin City, KS; brother, Larry Johnson and his wife, Beth, Bolivar, MO; and three grandchildren, Nuely Huggins, Brandon Geschwenter, and Lainey Rochester.

Graveside funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 21, 2023 at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City, KS.  The family will greet friends for a visitation at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, Baldwin City, KS from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, prior to the service.  The family suggests in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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