Shirley Anne Darrah

Shirley Anne (Gosroski) Darrah, 85, of Manhattan, passed away with her devoted partner of 34 years, Martin Barry, by her side on Monday, April 21, 2025, after a long battle with dementia.

She was born May 29, 1939, in Warrensburg, Missouri, the daughter of Charles and Rose (Sylva) Gosroski. She was the youngest of her siblings, a sister Rosemary and brother Sonny. She graduated from high school in Warrensburg.

Shirley married her highschool sweetheart, Elton Darrah, in 1956, and they raised three children together. In 1969, she and Elton (Eddie) purchased the D&O Thriftway, where they worked together. They later converted it to one of the first Convenience Stores in Manhattan, and called it Shop Quik. They went on to build and open seven convenience stores known as Shop Quik, in Manhattan, Kansas. After 35 years together, Her marriage to Elton ended in divorce.

On January 31, 1991, Shirley met Martin Barry and began a renewed chapter in her life of love and respect. Shirley later purchased a beautiful 20-acre hobby farm north of Manhattan, where they shared a very peaceful life together. Deeply devoted to one another, they spent nearly all of their time together fishing, bowling, traveling, riding in their side-by-side they called Lady Bug, yard work, gardening, visiting small towns and eating at their cafés, watching westerns, and cherishing their life with their beloved dog, Gabby.

In addition to the quiet life she spent with Martin, Mrs. Darrah was an avid golfer and a proud member of the Kansas Women’s Golf League. She traveled to many golf events with friends, and took great pride in having played at Pebble Beach. Shirley also loved football, attending most of the home Kansas State Wildcat Football games, sitting with one of her best friends, Shirley Staples, and tailgating with Chris and Jan.

Survivors include her companion, Martin L. Barry; her brother, Charles “Sonny” Gosroski; a daughter, Terry Darrah Bailey, Wichita; a son, Mark (Julia) Darrah, Arizona; son, Chris (Jan) Darrah, Manhattan; and Martin’s son, Jason (Mary) Barry, Alma. Her grandchildren, Jennifer Leggio and Jason Bailey(Terry), Riki and Shailey Darrah (Chris); step-grandchildren, Kelley Casey and Ross McKinney (Jan); and Martin’s son Jason’s Step children Chris and Danielle (Mary); and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister, Rosemary Foglia; and ex-husband, Elton Darrah.

Shirley was greatly loved by her family and friends and known to have a quick wit, easy laugh, and twinkle in her eye. She will be greatly missed. Her final wishes were to be cremated, with no services, and we are honoring those wishes.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Home of the Flint Hills, 11771 Legacy Pl, St George, KS 66535, which cared for Shirley in her last couple of years of aggressive dementia.

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