Shirley "Colleen" Hynson

Shirley “Colleen” Hynson, formerly of Chase County, passed away December 5, 2024, at Homestead of Emporia. She was born August 24, 1931, in Longmont, CO, to Ben and Ethyl (Bardon) Hamilton. Ben later married Eileen Gray, who helped raise Colleen and her sister Nita as the family managed the Robbins Ranch near Hymer, KS. After having attended school in Chase County, Colleen married Harold Passmore with whom she had five children. In 1964 Colleen married Keith Hynson. A daughter Tracy was born to that union.

Colleen was a homemaker who opened her home to all her kids’ friends to whom she served literally hundreds of pre-ballgame hamburgers. Through the years, she supported her children serving as den mother for Boy and Girl Scouts, Diamond Creek 4-H leader, and Sunday school assistant at the Methodist Church. Besides gardening and creating wood burning art pieces, her main hobby was helping others: babysitting, fixing hair, altering clothes, and assisting friends in need. After she earned her accreditation as a certified nurse’s aide, she worked at Chase County Nursing Center for 12 years before retiring and eventually moving to Emporia.

Colleen is survived by children, Ted Passmore (Carol) of Deville, LA; Alan Passmore (Enny) of Little Rock, AR; Connie Pretzer (Terry) of Strong City; Tom Passmore (Barbara) of Boyce, LA; Tracy Hynson (Diane) of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI; daughter-in-law, Yvonne Passmore of Emporia, 11 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by father; mother; stepmother, husband Keith, sister Nita Barr, and son Chris Passmore.

Per Colleen’s wishes, cremation will take place, and a private burial will be in Prairie Grove Cemetery, Cottonwood Falls, KS. Memorial donations may be made to Cottonwood Falls Faith Methodist Church in care of Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home, PO Box 220, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845.

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