A Life of Resilience and Joy

At 87 years old, Shirley is an example of someone who continues to put her enthusiasm to good use. This animated lady is the oldest person served at KETCH. She’s known to be quite the dancer (actually, whenever music plays), a cheerleader for a Special Olympics basketball team, and is a bowler. Last week, she was on a bowling team that competed in a Special Olympics State Tournament in Kansas City. 

Shirley grew up in the Winfield State Hospital. She was placed there when she was 13 months old. Her targeted Case Manager says she was there for close to 38 years. When she finally transferred to Wichita she lived in a community group home. When she came to KETCH WORK Services in 1979 she was 42 years old. Over the years, she’s lived in several KETCH homes and participated in many programs, including Work Services, Supported Employment at Pizza Hut, and Encore. She now attends the Osage day program five days a week. 

Shirley has won the hearts of many KETCH employees who have known her for years, even decades. They watch out for her, root for her in her activities, and marvel at her energy. Rose, a DSP at her Richmond home, says Shirley is easy to love. She sometimes refers to her as “the Queen” and says Shirley deserves it at her age. If Rose is taking several people on an outing, she has taught them that no one gets on the bus until Shirley gets on and takes her seat. Rose is a grandmother and expects people to respect their elders. That also goes for elderly persons served. 

Shirley and Rose have been together at Richmond for 13 years. Shirley has a limited vocabulary, but that doesn’t keep her from talking. When she speaks, she reinforces her words with gestures; a few are American Sign Language, but most are her own. Rose can figure out what she’s saying and translate it to others when needed. When Shirley comes home from Osage, they chatter about their day. Understanding what Shirley says may be challenging, but Rose says Shirley completely understands what others are saying. 

The staff member at Osage who has known Shirley the longest is Viola. She’s worked at KETCH for nearly 24 years, and she’s been around Shirley the whole time. Viola says Shirley is a delight, spunky, and smart. She thinks some people may underestimate her. She adds, “Shirley has always understood everything I’ve asked her to do.” Shirley is almost always in a good mood, but when she’s not, you’ll know it. If someone is loud or disruptive at Osage, Viola says she will scold them severely and clearly say, “I don’t like that.” She may also give staff the silent treatment if she doesn’t get her way. 

Shirley is enthusiastic about activities she enjoys, from dancing to bowling and watching certain TV shows. Her favorite show is Walker Texas Ranger, starring Chuck Norris. There are CDs of the shows at her house and at the Osage program. At both locations she is known to get so excited when Walker fights with the bad guys, she’ll get up and try to copy his Kung Fu karate chop moves. She also loves old western shows like The Rifleman, Bonanza, and the classics like Leave It to Beaver. 

Rose says Shirley has a great memory. Since she is one of the few still alive who lived at Winfield State Hospital, Rose asked her if she remembered what it was like there. Reports from the 1960s and 70s on conditions and the treatment of residents at state hospitals uncovered abuse. Shirley thought for a couple of seconds, then started to smile. She replied that they treated her well, felt safe, and she then hugged herself, indicating that she felt loved. 

It is easy to love Shirley. Viola says she’s wonderful. Shirley loves her staff right back and considers them family. Shirley, as the elder and only woman on her side of the housing unit, calls the men in her house “boys,” and the boys care about her. They carefully ensure she knows the routine for fire drills as they exit together. 

Shirley loves babies and has accumulated several baby dolls in her bedroom. Two of them sleep in a bassinet next to her bed, and the third, very special one, sleeps with her. That is her soft side, but she has another side. When Rose mentions that Shirley recently bowled three strikes, Shirley makes a fist, then holds up her arm and flexes. She says, “Strong.” When asked what makes her so strong, she smiles and says, “God.”