Myrtle Burndine (Thornton) Shields

Myrtle “Burndine” Shields, age 84 of Wellsville, KS passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Olathe Hospice House. Memorial services will be 10:30AM, Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Wilson’s Funeral Home in Wellsville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wellsville City Library or the Olathe Hospice House in care of Wilson’s, PO Box, 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

Myrtle “Burdine” Shields was born September 12, 1937 in Stidham, Oklahoma, the daughter of Ras Berry and Stella Beatrice (Adams) Thornton. She grew up in Stidham and graduated from Stidham High School in 1955. After graduation, Burndine moved to Wellsville to be a nanny. On December 7, 1957, she married Dennis B Shields in Wellsville at the family farm. They were married 59 years before his passing in 2017. Burndine helped raise countless children from Wellsville in her home for many years before becoming the librarian at the Wellsville City Library. She was instrumental in helping to make the library, as it stands now, a reality. She petitioned in her younger years to construct the Wellsville City Pool as well. Burndine retired as librarian in 1996. She loved to camp and fish and read and was an avid gardener. Burndine was passive and kind in her nature and had a loving and tolerant heart for children. She was a member of the Wellsville American Legion Auxiliary.

Burndine is survived by her daughter, Claudia Burns of Gardner, KS; son, Michael Shields of Wellsville; sister, Joyce Todd (John) of Ottawa; brother, Johnny Thornton (Peggy) of Lyndon, KS;  brother, Huston Thornton (Susan) of Pomona, KS; grandchildren: Amanda Fluderer of Baldwin, KS; Melissia Hudson (Zach) of Paola, KS; Amy Wilhite of Gardner; Ted Shields of Wichita, KS; Conner Shields of Wellsville; great-grandchildren, Jaycee Fluderer, Braeden Fluderer, Jayden Whitling, Ava Whitling, Colton Hudson, Maddie Hudson, Ezera Dunwoody and Austin Dunwoody; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant brother, Raymond (1940), brother, Glen Thornton (2002).

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