Shirley Orlando

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Mrs. Shirley Gay Orlando, 58, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Friday, January 20, 2017 at her home.

Shirley entered this life on January 23, 1958, in Garnett, Kansas, to Milo and Lois (Clinton) Crist. She was raised in Garnett and was a 1976 graduate of Garnett High School. She furthered her education at Iola Community College and in 1982 she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Pittsburg Stage University. On June 18, 1983, she was united in marriage to Dr. Jim Orlando and to this union a daughter and son were born. Before managing her husbands practice, Shirley was a laboratory technician at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. She was a faithful member of Christ’s Community United Methodist Church in Joplin. She enjoyed caring for the needs of her family, her beloved pets, learning about the world around her and watching Dancing with the Stars.

She was preceded in death by her father, Milo Crist; and a sister, Janice Crist.

Shirley is survived by her husband of thirty-four years, Dr. Jim Orlando of the home; her two children, Jamie Leigh Orlando of Springfield and Jeffrey Glenn Orlando of the home; her mother, Lois Crist of Garnett, Kansas; a brother, Mike Crist and wife, Joy, of Garnett; three sisters, Lela Scheckel and husband, Gene, of Owasso, Oklahoma, Karen Terriell and husband, Stuart, of Wichita, Kansas and Connie Scott of Potosi, Missouri; her mother in-law, Joan Orlando of Joplin, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Orlando are 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2017, at Christ’s Community United Methodist Church with Pastor Chris Sloan officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri. Memorials are being directed to the either the church or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and contributions may be left at the mortuary. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.