Shirley Biller

Shirley Ann (Dowers) Biller, 85, was born, raised, and spent most of her adult life in Oxford. After the death of her husband, Fred O. Biller, in 1992, Shirley moved to Topeka, in 1994 to be closer to daughters and grandchildren. For over two decades, she was an enthusiastic participant in life, including active membership at Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene, spending many hours as a volunteer in the Topeka community, enjoying time with family and friends, homemaking and gardening, and spreading the Good News through thought and deed.

Shirley was born on January 12, 1931, the daughter of C.W. and Marion Victoria (Ginder) Dowers in Oxford. She was a 1949 graduate of Oxford High School before attending Southwestern College in Winfield where she studied business. On December 21, 1955 she was united in marriage to Fred O. Biller in Newkirk, Okla. To the couple, three daughters were born: Susan, Sheryl and Sharon.   Shirley was a stellar role model for her children. She was hardworking, disciplined and talented, and just as her mother was before her, she was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Oxford.  She raised her daughters to regularly attend church and participate actively in activities there. Setting the example, Shirley taught Adult Sunday School, actively participated in Church activities and projects, and served as pianist and organist for the church for many years. When her daughters became teenagers, Shirley felt called to run for the Oxford School Board. She was elected, and served as a school board member and as board president during her tenure.

She worked 14 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Wellington, and after her move to Topeka, she worked for six years at the Kansas Judicial Center.  She was an active and dedicated volunteer and committee member for Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging in Topeka.  She enjoyed participating (and helping teach) Bible Study at church, lunches out with family and friends, and especially loved family dinners with home cooked meals and spending time with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After surgery for a broken femur, Shirley’s daughters and family members were with her continuously throughout the next six weeks, during stays in the hospital, physical rehabilitation, and Midland Care-Hospice House.  Her last five days were spent in the home of her daughter in Topeka, where she continued to receive loving care and support from family, with hospice support, until her death on November 18, 2016.

Surviving to honor her memory are her daughters and their husbands: Susan Nelson and husband Monty; Sheryl Strathman and husband Matt, of Topeka, KS. Sharon Treat and husband Richard of St. Charles, MO.  Grandchildren include Susan’s daughter, Calysta MacDonald; Sheryl’s sons, Colton, Hunter and Grayson Strathman; and Sharon’s sons, Alexander, Jacob and Christian Treat. Great grandchildren include, India MacDonald, Zooey MacDonald and Solomon Mota.

Preceding Shirley in death are her parents, Marion (Ginder) and Charles Dowers; sisters Thelma and Elois Dowers, brother Alan Dowers, sisters Ural (Dowers) Langford, Dorothy (Dowers) Bunch, and Faye (Dowers) Witte and her husband Fred Biller.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 22 at the Oxford First Baptist Church in Oxford. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until noon with family present to receive friends from 11 a.m. until noon at the Oxford Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will be in the Oxford Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Midland Care-Hospice House. Contributions can be sent or left in care of Oxford Funeral Service, 104 N. Sumner, Oxford, KS  67119