SHIRLEY SUE (MOOD) GREENE

Shirley Sue (Mood) Greene, born March 25, 1934, in Nocona, Texas died on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Webb City Health and Rehabilitation Center. She spent the day surrounded by some of her closest family and a host of wonderful, caring staff. While she leaves a hole in our hearts, we rejoice at the end of her suffering and freedom from her physical pain and know that, if anyone deserves to be in heaven, she certainly is there.
Shirley grew up in Texas among her large extended family, and then in Oklahoma; graduating from Muskogee Central High before becoming a registered nurse at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Dallas, Texas in 1954. Never one to fear new adventures, she headed out on her own to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. It was here she met her one and only, James Neal Greene, who was charmed by her intelligence, her love of life, her compassion, and, as he often remarked, her legs. They were married on December 29, 1956, and began their life in Elgin, Illinois. While Jim worked toward his medical degree, Shirley worked as a nurse in several areas including labor and delivery, surgery and mental health wards. They had their first son, Steve, in 1960.
They moved often to follow Jim’s education and career, to Texas (where son, Greg was born in 1962) Florida and Tennessee (where their daughter, Anna Lynn joined the family in 1968) before ending up in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1971. While devoting her life to her family, Shirley still volunteered with the American Red Cross, the Methodist Church and her children’s countless activities, all while supporting Jim’s growing medical practice. She modeled faith, forgiveness and loyalty, and was the embodiment of grace, compassion, patience and self-sacrifice. She never failed to write personal notes, make phone calls or pay visits to friends and family, and built a strong community of friends around her.
Shirley brought all of these qualities when they moved to Mt. Vernon, Missouri - their home for the last 30 years. She was a leader and member of the Methodist Women’s group at her church and the nursery coordinator for many years. She loved knowing all the children and their families. She was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels and would take her grandchildren to accompany her when they visited, modeling giving of your heart and time. She loved books, games, classical music, gardening, puzzles, and being outdoors. She treasured every minute with her children and grandchildren - playing board games, cooking special meals, baking and decorating Christmas cookies and gardening and reading with them.
She was survived by her husband, Jim; her son, Steve and his wife, Cynthia; her son, Greg and his wife, Cindy; and her daughter, Anna and her husband, David. She also leaves behind grandchildren: Hunter, Audra, Hayden and Christopher and his wife Misty; as well as great-grandchildren, Michelle and Lucy. Other surviving family includes her brother, George and his wife, Chris; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Francis “Frank” Asbury (1977) and Emilie “Emily” Jordan Mood (1989); and brothers, Dan (1989) and John (2014) Mood.
There will be a gathering from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on June 28, to celebrate the lives of both Jim and Shirley at the Family of Christ Church in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Please come and share your stories and community to celebrate the blessing of knowing them. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Gentiva Hospice who cared for them both or to KUMC’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research to fight the disease that steals so much from families.