Gene Shirley, 90, of Mount Vernon, Illinois passed away at 10:28 A.M. September 24, 2019 at Mount Vernon Countryside Manor in Mount Vernon, Illinois. She was born February 14, 1929 in Jefferson County, Illinois to the late Ernie K.  and Martha (Rapp) Fleener. She married Virgil J. Shirley on December 17, 1944 in Morganfield, Kentucky. They were blessed with nearly fifty-seven year of marriage before he preceded her in death on October 27, 2001.

A Visitation will be held September 27, 2019 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at Newell Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at11:00 A.M. with Reverend John Ashby officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Panther Fork Missionary Baptist Church.

Call Newell Funeral Home – Mount Vernon at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.