Shirley Ann (Warner) Dicks, age 84, of St. Charles, Missouri, died May 29, 2024, at her home. She was born June 8, 1939, to Andrew Dale and Althea Nadean (Kinkeade) Warner in Maries County, Missouri.

She was married to John Franklin Dicks on October 10, 1964, at Independent Congregational Church, St. Louis County, Missouri.

Prior to her marriage, Shirley worked in the advertising and public relations department at Laclede Gas Company. She was phenomenal at shorthand, editing, and dictation with a typing speed so fast it would jam a manual typewriter. She played piano and doted on her baby brother, 11 years her junior, ensuring he had a bicycle and a pet dog.

While her children were young, Shirley was a homemaker, active with their school and extracurricular activities, such as working with various Girl Scout troops and serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader.

After her children were grown, she returned to the work force as an Executive Secretary for bioMérieux, Hazelwood, MO, and retired in 1996.

Shirley played duplicate bridge with her husband and was a member of the American Contract Bridge League. One of her greatest accomplishments was achieving the rank of Gold Life Master. They enjoyed traveling the country and the world for bridge tournaments, sporting events, and historical excursions. In the fall of 2022, she fulfilled the goal of visiting all 50 states.

Shirley spent much of her adult life avidly researching family history and was highly regarded by the family as the expert in genealogy. She loved to cook, frequently experimenting in the kitchen and feeding those "experiments" to her family. Shirley particularly enjoyed having her grandchildren stay with her, be it during internships, college, or summer vacations. Much of their time together was spent cooking, watching St. Louis Cardinals games, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune, and sharing family lore. Family was the center of Shirley's world; her legacy will live on, not only through wonderful memories, but also through her diligent documentation.

Shirley was diagnosed with ALS on May 1, 2024. Despite a rapid progression, she maintained her grace, dignity, and sense of humor until the very end.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a niece, Kimberly Warner.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Beth (Steven) Pennington of Kirksville, MO, and Sally Ann (David) Weyhaupt of Belleville, IL; one son, David Dale (Jody) Dicks of Linden, MI; two step-children, Linda Renee (Ed) Evans of Lake St. Louis, MO, and John Norman Dicks of Manila, Philippines; twelve grandchildren:  Adam (Morgan) Pennington, Caitlin (William) Kjeldsen, and Megan Pennington; Justin Williamson, Jessica (Ryan) Bingheim, and Michelle Weyhaupt; Simon and Spencer Dicks; Emily (Rick) Jenkins, Aaron (Lindsay) Evans, and Melissa (Ben) Brennecke; John N.R. Dicks; and twelve great-grandchildren: John and Rex Bingheim; Lydia, Caroline, Audrey, and Samuel Jenkins; Addison, Lucy, Aubrey, and Lainey Evans; Lucas and Evan Brennecke. She is survived by one brother, Charles Andrew Warner of O'Fallon, MO, three nephews, five great-nephews, and one great-niece.

Services for Shirley Ann Dicks will be conducted at Jones Funeral Home, St. James, MO, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow in the family plot at the High Gate Cemetery, High Gate, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The ALS Association for research at this website or the charity of the donor's choice.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO.

ALS Association
Web: https://www.als.org/?campaign=487487