Shirley Ainsworth

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Shirley Ann Ainsworth, 77, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, following complications from emergency surgery. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

She was born June 30, 1931, at Paragould, Ark., daughter of the late Roy Lee Garland and Mona Irene Ainsworth.

Ainsworth was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was secretary for her late husband's construction company, Ainsworth Construction, from 1965 to 1990.

She was married Nov. 27, 1963, at Gainesville, Texas, to Charles Ainsworth. He preceded her in death Oct. 7, 1999.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Lee and Janet Haines of Cape Girardeau; a daughter and son-in-law, Patrice and Bruce Taylor of Sikeston; and four grandchildren, Brett Taylor of Glen Burnie, Md., Logan Haines, Jennifer Haines and Luke Haines, all of Cape Girardeau.

Shirley loved decorating for the holidays and cooking big family meals for her kids and grandkids. Some of her many hobbies included sewing, quilting, bird watching and keeping up with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Ponder Funeral Home.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Geoff Posegate, pastor of First United Methodist Church, and the Rev. David Hulshof, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cape Girardeau, will officiate. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston.

Donations may be made to American Cancer Society and First United Methodist Church in Sikeston.