"Virginia took over as Director during a difficult time for the department and turned things around into an EMS Department which is well organized, well trained, and a department which started to attract volunteers that doubled in volume. The Kansas Board of EMS issued a letter praising Mrs. Shearrer and her department for providing quality emergency services to the Larned/Pawnee County Community. She received an award for a Perfect Score at her annual inspection of ambulance, protocol and records," stated City Manager Don Gaeddert. Interim EMS Director Gary Hartman stated, "I don't know what we will do without her. For most of us here in Pawnee County who counted on Virginia to be our guardian angel, so to speak, we will not be able to hear a siren and not think of her rushing to help someone."<br />
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Virginia K. Shearrer, 63, of Larned, Kansas, died in the line of duty on June 5, 2006. Mrs. Shearrer was completing an ambulance call when she started complaining of a severe headache. She was taken to a local hospital, as her condition worsened. She was sent via medical helicopter to the Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita; there she died of a suspected brain aneurysm.<br />
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Virginia Shearrer had worked as Director of EMS for Pawnee County and the City of Larned, Kansas since 2002; she had been Assistant Director of EMS dating back to 1983. Her career in the field of rescue spanned back to 1979. She was most active in her community, and was always taking care of others. One of her daughters was following in her footsteps in the field of Emergency Medical Services.<br />
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Honored 2010 |