Shirley Louise Banz Macklin

Shirley Louise (Green) Banz Macklin, 88, died May 6, 2025, at her daughter's home in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born February 2, 1937, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Edwin Douglas and Celestia "Lenora" (Harris) Green. She was an only child until 14, when sister Donna was born, then Susan in 1955. She loved-loved-loved her little sisters, and, later, their families.
Shirley graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1955, and was proud to have played the marching drum as one of the original members of the Sky Ryders. She grew up active in the First Christian Church in Hutchinson, where she married classmate Michael Banz on December 18, 1955. Together they had three children: Mindy, Diana and Derrald.
Shirley and husband Mike lived in Cleveland and Cincinnati Ohio, Connecticut, and settled in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Shirley lived for 26 years and raised her children. Her heart was in both Hutchinson and the Maryland-D.C metro. Her happiest places were under the Kansas sky and on the warm sand of the Maryland-Delaware beach. After moving to Maryland in 1966, the family set out to tour -many times- every possible monument, marker, museum, battlefield, historic home, and town between Virginia and Pennsylvania.
She retired from Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland after 20 years as an elementary school special education assistant. After returning to Hutchinson, she found great joy in working for Hutch Rec in the adult special populations program with dear friend, Dan Funk.
On June 24, 1995, Shirley married Dallas Macklin, in Hutchinson. They shared 20 years of marriage, prior to his death on March 14, 2016.
Shirley had a great interest in holistic therapies and became a certified massage therapist. She also had a quirky side. She attended clown school and performed as Sunshine the Clown. She loved a wide range of music, old time country and bluegrass, Sinatra, nd Chopin.
She was always up for a good garage sale or antique shop, and had a great had an eye for turning almost any object into an unusual flower pot. Shirley inherited her mother's green thumb, loving time spent in the garden. You knew it was summer when she'd plant containers of geraniums. After gardening became difficult, she still loved to talk and informally teach about flowers and plants. Sunshine and flowers made her smile. Her very last smile was a week ago when her daughter brought a freshly cut bouquet of roses from the garden into her room.
She enjoyed time by herself, but cherished time with friends and family. After moving to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Oklahoma City, OK, she continued to keep in touch with everyone through Facebook and long phone calls. Shirley was also never alone in the last few years, kept company by her devoted dog Jesse, who wouldn't leave her side to the end. She received special around-the-clock care and compassion in her final years from Gracie, Patrick and Ian.
Shirley is survived by: her children, Mindy (Bruce) Kitzel of Oklahoma City, OK; Diana (Tracy) Eureka of Emmitsburg, MD; Derrald (Roxanne) Banz of Key West, FL; sisters, Donna (David) Tout of Olathe, KS; Susan (Tim) Haddad of Swansea, IL; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six special nieces and nephews; a grandnephew and grandniece, and, of course, her beloved dog, Jesse.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Michael Banz; husband, Dallas Macklin; daughter-in-law, Verlene Banz; niece, Christina Johnson, stepdaughter, Karen Kelman; and a step-grandson, Tim.
Graveside service will be announced at a later date. Cremation has taken place.
Memorials are suggested to OK Humane Society, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.