Shirley Bennett Black, 69, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, May 18, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born Oct. 13, 1936, in Memphis, Tenn., daughter of Judy and Della Shanks Crabb. She and William Bennett Jr. were married Nov. 28, 1952. He died July 21, 1978. She married Duane Black July 24, 1992.

Shirley graduated from Central High School in 1954. She was employed at Sears in Cape Girardeau from 1958 to 1980. She was a member of VFW Auxiliary Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, and was of the Methodist belief.

Loving survivors include her husband, Duane; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Bill and Laura Bennett of Cape Girardeau, Bob Bennett of Jackson; a daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Ralph Pittman of Murray, Ky.; a brother, Cecil W. Crabb of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Judy Faye Fox of Memphis; five grandchildren, James Lange, Dana Caffee, Brandon Bennett, Billy Lesar, Jacob Bennett; and three great-grandchildren, Seth, Austin, and Abbi Lange.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Friends may call Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Interment will follow in New Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society or LWML Circle of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.