Shyrell Lee (Cranor) Smith

Shyrell Lee (Cranor) Smith, 68, went home to be with the Lord suddenly Sunday, May 22, 2011 as she was traveling to work as a registered nurse (RN) at Freeman East, Joplin, MO. Shyrell"s death, due to injuries sustained in the Joplin tornado, is a tragic loss for all family, friends, and associates who were touched by her. Shyrell lived in Pittsburg, Kansas for the past 13 years. Prior she resided in Altoona, Fredonia, and Coffeyville, Kansas. She was born on January 13, 1943, to Forrest David & Nellie Mae (Foulke) Cranor. Shyrell was raised in Altoona, Kansas and graduated from Altoona Rural High School in 1961. She graduated from Phillips University, College of the Bible, Enid, Oklahoma, in 1965 with a Degree in Religion. In 1968, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Kansas. Shyrell received an advanced degree in Education Specialist and Human Resource Development in 2003 at Pittsburg State University. Shyrell worked in the nursing field for over 45 years. She was the first county health nurse for Wilson County, and at the age of 68 was still working full time as an RN at Freeman East. She was an extraordinary nurse and loved her work. Shyrell Lee Cranor married Arthur Eugene Smith on June 10, 1967 in Fredonia, Kansas, and they were later divorced. She was a member of the Westside Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Walk Kansas, Pittsburg Family YMCA, American Red Cross Nurse, Phi Kappa Phi, and Weight Watchers. She leaves her son, Eric Eugene Smith and his wife, April, of Olathe, Kansas; her daughter, Sharilyn LeeAnn Gardner, and her husband, Paul, of Pittsburg, Kansas; her brother, David Cranor, and sister-in-law, Lee Donna, of Georgetown, Texas; her sister, Pamela Sue Stanley, and brother-in-law, Gary, of Newtown, Pennsylvania; loving grandchildren, Riley, Benjamin, Troy, and Hannah Smith of Olathe, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. Shyrell dedicated her life to the medical profession, loving family, friends and helping others. She was preceded in death by her parents, maternal grandparents, and paternal grandparents. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, June 3, 2011, at the Timmons Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kenny Richards officiating. Burial will be in the Altoona Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from noon until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Westside Church Operation Christmas Child or the "Feed the Children" fund. Contributions can be sent to the funeral home. Words of condolence for the family may be left on this website. Timmons Funeral Home, PO Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736, is in charge of the arrangements.