Shirley M. Yancey

Shirley M. Yancey, nee Larsen, 93, of Belleville, IL, born Monday, August 29, 1927, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL.

Shirley was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church Belleville, IL. Shirley graduated high school from Notre Dame Academy in 1946. She then went to work for the phone company in East St. Louis, as an operator. In June of 46, while waiting for the bus after work, she met the love of her life, John Yancey. He proposed after their first date. They married November 15th, 1947. They are together again and we are finding peace in that. They were a cute, loving couple and always fun to be around. They owned Yancey Trucking Company, operating out of Greenville and Belleville Illinois. Shirley had a great sense of humor. She loved to laugh and make others laugh too. We are left with so many funny stories, one liners, and running jokes. No one will ever see a Groucho Marx mask without thinking of her. She loved to cook for her family and made many dishes that have become favorite traditional parts of holiday meals. She loved decorating for the holidays, especially Christmas. She loved watching the grandchildren open their gifts. She told me to make sure to put in her obituary, “Mission accomplished”.

She was preceded in death by her:

• Husband: John F. Yancey, Jr.,
• Parents: Herbert and Dora, nee Clavin, Larsen

Surviving are her:

• Son: John F. (Diana) Yancey, III of Chesapeake, VA
• Daughter: Carole Yancey of Belleville, IL
•  Half-sister: Pat Connely of Belleville, IL
• 7 Grandchildren
  • Jeanine Yancey-Baxter
  • John Yancey
  • Amanda (Jimmy) Kryskowiak
  • Ian (Kim) Yancey
  • Jason (Mindy) Sengebusch
  • Jessica Yancey
  • Kipp Yancey
• 15 great grandchildren
• Sister-in-law: Wanda Yancey of Belleville, IL
• Niece: Irene (Mark) Yancey-Ippoliti of Belleville, IL

Funeral: Private family burial will be held at Mount Carmel Cemetery with Fr. Kenneth York officiating.