Shirley Mae (née Sorrell) Eickhorst of St. James, Missouri was born on March 11, 1936 in Redbird, Missouri to Lyndon and Iva Mae Sorrell and passed away March 20, 2026 at the age of 90 years.
On September 2, 1951 she married William Franklin "Willie" Eickhorst at the Assembly of God Church in St. James, Missouri.
Alongside her husband, Shirley co-managed various family businesses, including the Amoco Standard Station where she served as the bookkeeper and pumped gas for customers. Later they built Eickhorst Auto Parts where she took on additional responsibilities as a counter person and payroll clerk.
In their retirement, Shirley and Willie enjoyed life on their two farms South of St. James and Redbird, where she had a fondness for the cows.
She was an active participant in her church community—serving as a Sunday school teacher, a prayer warrior, and a member of the prayer chain.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyndon and Iva Mae Sorrell; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Julius and Zelma Eickhorst; two sons, Bill Eickhorst and Larry Eickhorst; granddaughter, Elizabeth Anne Eickhorst; sister and brothers-in-law, Wilda and Bill Spencer, George Pruett and Jimmy Eickhorst.
She is survived by her husband, William Franklin "Willie" Eickhorst of St. James, Missouri; sons, Gary Eickhorst (Irina Borisova) of Lake Lotawana, Missouri and Jeff Eickhorst of Steelville, Missouri;
two daughter-in-laws, Carolyn Eickhorst of Holts Summit, Missouri and Patricia Eickhorst of Cuba Missouri; five grandchildren, Jonathan (Stacey) Eickhorst of New Bloomfield, Missouri, Stephen Eickhorst of Holt Summit, Missouri, Jessica (Mark) Pinnell of Cuba, Missouri, Abby (Reilly) Pollard of Prairie Village, Kansas and Ethan (Alisha) Eickhorst Kansas City, Missouri; five great grandchildren, Christian (Sydni) Eickhorst, Jacob (Rachel) Eickhorst, Chelsea Pinnell, Miranda Pinnell and Finneas Pollard; four great great grandchildren, William, Samson, Oaklyn and Jensen Eickhorst; sister, Chalice Pruett of Holt Summit, Missouri; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Charles (Emmadeen) Eickhorst, Floyd (Earlene) Eickhorst, Leoma (Dennis) Smith, Danny (Ruby) Eickhorst and Joe (Brenda) Eickhorst; puppy named Sissy; caregivers; Jessica, Brittney, Kasondra, Andrea and Lucy; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at Jones Funeral Home of St. James, Missouri.
Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Pastor Mick Thrasher officiating.
Burial at the Oak Forest Cemetery at Redbird Missouri. Pallbearers were Jacob Eickhorst, Christian Eickhorst, Chris Mueller, Jonathan Eickhorst, Scott Gahr and Rick Krawiecki. Honorary pallbearers were Mark Pinnell, Steven Eickhorst, Ray Aguilar and Jim Keeney.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.
