Kenneth Shirley (21 January 1928) was born in Nebraska to James and Mabel Shirley.

He married Mary Alyea on 17 October 1952 in Cook County, Illinois,¹⁾ and Connie Lyn Patrick on 6 July 1946 in Norton, Kansas.²⁾

Kenneth was raised in Holbrook, Nebraska and stayed there until around November 1946.³⁾ In January 1947 he was living in Minneapolis, Kansas⁴⁾ but returned to Holbrook in August to finish school.⁵⁾

In 1948, Kenneth was living in Hammond, Indiana.⁶⁾ In 1952 he was in Cook County, Illinois for his marriage to Mary Alyea.⁷⁾

According to his obituary he had been living in Tonganoxie, Kansas since 1961.⁸⁾

Kenneth attended Holbrook Schools in Furnas County Nebraska. In October 1939 he was commended in the Holbrook Observer for perfect attendance in the 6^th grade.⁹⁾ A February 1941 newspaper lists his participation in a basketball tournament.¹⁰⁾ In 1944 he was struck by a car, delaying his education.¹¹⁾

In September 1946 he was a senior class officer¹²⁾ but in November he moved to Kansas for work.¹³⁾ He returned to school in 1947¹⁴⁾ and graduated from the Holbrook School in 1948.¹⁵⁾

In October 1944 Kenneth's education was interrupted by a severe accident that had him “encased in casts.”¹⁶⁾ In March 1945 he was released from the hospital after a stay of over 5 months.¹⁷⁾ By July it was reported that enough of his cast had been removed that he could sit up.¹⁸⁾ By January 1946 he had recovered enough that he no longer needed crutches.¹⁹⁾

In July 1946 Kenneth was employed at the Cement Block Company.²⁰⁾ In November he moved to Minneapolis, Kansas to work for the Rels Construction Company.²¹⁾ He stayed until around August 1947 when he returned to Holbrook.²²⁾

In November 1948, Kenneth was working in Hammond, Indiana for the American Railway Car Comapny.²³⁾

His obituary lists his final place of employment as CCI Construction Company of Bonner Springs in 1975.²⁴⁾

Kenneth died on 1 August 1975 in a construction accident when a crane fell on him while he was working on a bridge in Excelsior, Kansas. He was survived by his wife Patsy, his children Deane, Ella, Pamela, Lori, and Justin, his mother Mabel, and his siblings Gerald, Don, and Geny.²⁵⁾