Shirley Belle Chandler

Shirley Belle Chandler, daughter of the late Lester and Mabel (Nichol) Smith, was born on August 30, 1939 in Evans, Missouri in Douglas County and passed away on March 24, 2014 in Cox Medical Center, South in Springfield, Missouri at 74 years of age. Shirley grew up in Douglas County and graduated from Dora High School in 1958. She married Don C. Wheat on January 9, 1960. Don passed away in 1975. Shirley married Gene Chandler on December 7, 1979. They shared and raised seven children together. In whimsical fashion, she was locally referred to as the Belle of Douglas County, since her middle name was Belle. Some of her favorite things were God, singing, and fish frys. She truly enjoyed time spent with friends and family, socializing and singing. She especially loved her grandbabies and the special times she had with them. Shirley loved life and the people in her life. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. Besides her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her first husband: Don Wheat; her second husband: Gene Chandler; and one sister: Fern Shannon. She is survived by two sons: Doug Wheat and his wife, Isabella, of Gloucester Point, Virginia, and Eric Wheat of West Plains, Missouri; five daughters: Valorie Robertson and her husband, Lynn, of Graff, Missouri, Donita Virtue and her husband, Mike, of Seymour, Indiana, Cheryl Barker and her husband, Harry, of Chouteau, Oklahoma, Samantha Smith and her husband, Rick, of West Plains, and Shawna Clark of Warner Robins, Georgia; one brother: Chester Smith of Drury, Missouri; one sister: Eunice Akerson and her husband, Maynard, of Mountain Grove; twenty-six grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren plus one on the way; and many other relatives and friends.


Visitation: Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the chapel.

Funeral Service: Friday, March 28, 2014 at 2:00 PM in the chapel.

Burial: Gentryville Cemetery

Memorial Contributions: Gentryville Cemetery c/o the funeral home.