Shirley Mae Barns, age 93 of Mitchell, SD died Monday, March 21, 2016 at Firesteel Healthcare Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Will Funeral Chapel.

Shirley Mae Barns was born to LeRoy and Mona (McDonald) Barns on September 5, 1922 in Mitchell, SD. She received her education at White Lake, SD public schools, Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern State in Aberdeen, her Master's degree with emphasis in Special Education at the University of South Dakota with additional graduate work at Indiana University.

Shirley taught and served as Assistant Principal at Crippled Children's School of Jamestown, ND. She worked for several years as an instructor in the Department of Religion at Luther College in Decorah, IA and Director of Special Education, then spending several years as a Lutheran Deaconess.

Shirley returned to South Dakota after her father's death and mother's illness. She then served as a Special Education consultant and Director of the Department of Special Education for the SD State Department of Education. Shirley returned to Mitchell in 1964 as the Director of Special Education for the Mitchell Public Schools.

Shirley retired in 1984 and then at the request of the SD Board of Regents conducted a special study of the SD School for the Deaf. She was a member and chairman of the SD Board of Vocational Rehabilitation, awarded the Ernest Buckley Award of Merit for service to Deaf American, USD Chapter Phi Delta Kappa.

Shirley was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2004. She was confirmed in the Catholic faith in 2007.

Grateful for having shared her life are her nephews, Steven (Sherry) Barns and Stuart (Cindy) Barns; nieces, Jayne (Mike) Jonasen and Susan (Paul) Kiepke, niece-in-law Shar Barns, several great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews and several friends.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, brothers Jay and Bill and their wives; nephew James Barns and niece Lori Barns-Sheets.

Memorial may be directed to the Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD or Holy Family Parish in Mitchell, SD.