Shirley Ingham passed away on Dec. 22, 2022, at Country Living Living of Larned in Larned. Shirley was born in Chase on Aug. 15, 1938, to Anthony and Cora Muth. She was one of nine children and grew up in Chase where she attended St. Mary’s Catholic School through the eighth grade. She graduated from Chase High School in 1957. She attended business school in Hutchinson, where she studied accounting. She worked for an accounting firm in Lyons after completing her studies.
Shirley married Curt Ingham on July 7, 1960, in Tempe, Ariz. The union was blessed with eight children.
Shirley spent her life raising her children with her husband, Curt, and supporting her extended family. She returned to work after her children were older and worked as an optometrist assistant for Dr. Huffman and Dr. Gibson in Lyons. She later worked as an office assistant for an allergy specialist, Dr. Wiens in Great Bend. She enjoyed her career helping others and easily made friends with those she served.
Shirley lost her husband, Curt, on Feb. 23, 2000. She later married her husband, Richard Hammeke, on Dec. 3, 2011. Shirley enjoyed becoming a stepmother to Richard’s children and extending her family. She loved to host family dinners and enjoyed the laughter and conversations of her children and grandchildren. She loved her family by cooking wonderful meals and was famous in the community for her delicious pies.
Shirley was a member of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellinwood. She was previously a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Chase. She served on the Altar Society for both parishes. She also was active in the Chase High School Alumni Association.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Richard Hammeke; children Sheryl Burggraf (Don), Mike Ingham (Annie), Bob Ingham, Karen Wood, Tom Ingham (Ronda), David Ingham (Kim), Bill Ingham (Kerri) and John Ingham (Nicci); stepchildren Mary Klepper (Terry), Nancy Noda (Chris) and Steve Hammeke; sister Barbara Muth; grandchildren Mark Davis, Darron Ingham, Lucas Ingham, Alex Komarek, Sam Wood, Amanda Wood, Scott Ingham, Macy Liebl, Jacob Ingham, Clayton Ingham, Hunter Ingham, Taylor Ingham, Curtis Ingham and Kenzie Ingham; step-grandchildren Kirstie and Devin Klepper, Merritt, McKenna, Paxton, and Brynna Hammeke, and Salone, Isla, Elin, and Sutton Noda. There are also 17 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Curt Ingham; siblings Wilfred Muth, Fred Muth, Nadine Brown, Tom Muth, Bob Muth, Ray Muth and Mary Richter; grandchildren Brett Davis and Bill Wood.
Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ellinwood, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, followed by interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Chase. Rosary will be held before Mass at 9:15 a.m. Private family visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26 at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, with public visitation from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s research Hospital in care of Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, KS 67526.