06/15/2026
Shirley Sue Coupal was born January 09,1949, the first child of Warren and Betty (Carver) Coupal. She was raised on a farm in Clay County, Kansas, which has belonged to her family for over 100 years. Shirley graduated from Clay County elementary and secondary schools. She furthered her education and graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (1971) and a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine (1972); University of Kansas, School of Allied Health, (academic and clinical Laboratory Medicine education, 1972); American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) certified; Central Michigan University with a Master of Arts in Business (1987). In following years, Shirley held staff and managerial positions in Laboratory Medicine at Providence Medical Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Early on, Shirley developed a great love of history, often hearing family stories from beloved grandparents and relatives. She would compile the oral history of the Coupal family into a written work, Some Descendants of Antoine Coupal dit LaReine and Marie-Louise Palin Dabonville: A Family History. She would join several lineage and patriotic societies which she served with distinction. She has been a member of Daughters of the American Revolution since 1981 serving her local chapter Nathan Edson, the Kansas Society DAR, and the National Society DAR. NSDAR service included– Page, House and Marshal Committees at Continental Congress, National Vice Chairman, Membership – Prospective Members, and the following National Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Promoting American History, Spirit of America Award for Exceptional Creative Membership Projects, Outstanding Membership Promotion: Membership Road Show, Kansas Use of Computers for DAR of Kansas Outstanding Member of DAR Speakers Staff, as well as membership in The Heritage Club, 1890 Annual Giving Circle, National Officers Club, National Vice Chairmen’s Association, State Regent’s Club, State Vice Regent’s Club. Shirley was well-respected in the Kansas Society DAR. Her service included – Page and Marshal Committees at State Conference, State Chairmanships – Marshal, Santa Fe Trail DAR Marker and Membership Committees, Member State Finance Committee for 3 terms, Member District Procedural Guidelines Ad Hoc Committee, Chairman of District Guideline Revision Committee, Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission, and researched, compiled and edited the KSDAR Centennial History book, Looking Back: Trails to the Second Century, and The Second Century 1997-2010: A Kansas Society History. She compiled and co-edited the Addendum and Errata to the reproduction of Mrs. T.A. Cordry’s, The Marking of the Santa Fe Trail, surveyed, compiled and edited, The 90th Anniversary Survey of the DAR Santa Fe Trail Markers; The Century Survey of the Kansas Santa Fe Trail DAR Markers (2011). KSDAR offices were State Regent, Vice Regent, Recording Secretary, Historian, and was elected Honorary State Regent in April 2010. She enjoyed memberships in KSDAR Junior Club, organizing member; State Officer’s, Chapter Regent’s, State Chairman’s and Cameo Generations, charter member. As a member of the Northwest District of KSDAR, Shirley was District Director, Asst Director, Secretary and Treasurer. Her chapter service was as Nathan Edson Regent, Vice Regent, Historian, Registrar and Chapter Committee service – Public Relations, Yearbook, Chapter Achievement, VIS, Membership, Bylaws and many others. She was honored by the Kansas State Society Sons of the American Revolution with the Martha Washington medal.
While living and working in the Kansas City area, Shirley affiliated with other organizations: Kansas State Historical Society; Missouri Historical Society; Nebraska State Historical Society; Santa Fe Trail Association SFTA), Wet/Dry Route and Missouri River Outfitters Chapters and has written several articles about the DAR markers for the SFTA publication Wagon Tracks; Oregon-California Trail Association (OCTA), Trails Head and Nebraska Chapters; Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance, Kansas-Missouri River Bend chapter (past member); Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, Past President., Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC): State Second Vice Regent, The Arbella Chapter Regent, Daughters of Colonial Wars (DCW): State President and past National Historian, and General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Shirley passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Kansas City, Kansas. Funeral services and burial will be Friday, June 19 in Clay Center, Kansas. A Celebration of her Life with friends and associates will be held later this summer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Betty Coupal. Left to honor her memory are a sister – Jean Coupal-Smith; brother and sister-in-law –Doug and Michelle Coupal; nieces – Jessica Smith Young and Kinsey Coupal (Trevor) Cox; nephews – Brenton Smith, and Kyler and wife Shelby Coupal. She loved and welcomed the next generation of great nieces and nephews: Isabella and Graham Young; Coleson, Emma and Hallie Cox and Kenna and Kollyns Coupal. Friends from far and wide will cherish happy memories of trail trips and adventures with their friend. Happy Trails to you Shirley….till we meet again.
