Shirley Kuriyama Obituary

Shirley Jane Gerstberger Kuriyama, 88, of Amarillo, Texas, died peacefully at Baptist St. Anthony Hospital on October 18th, 2024. Shirley was accompanied by her family when she passed to be with her lord and savior. 

Rosary will be said on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 7 pm at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4100 Coulter St, in Amarillo. Mass will be celebrated at the church on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 10 am, with Father John Valdez presiding. Following Mass in Amarillo, Shirley will be taken to Marienthal, Kansas, where a rosary will be said at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 7 pm, 210 N Second Marienthal, Kansas. A graveside service will be held in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Marienthal at 11 am on Friday, October 25, 2024, with Father Benjamin Martin presiding. 

Shirley was born on August 3rd,1936, in Wichita County, Kansas, and grew up living her early days in Marienthal, Kansas. Shirley attended the Wichita County school system and enjoyed singing and growing up in a loving family environment. Shirley met Albert S. Kuriyama, and they were married in Ordway, Colorado, on January 14, 1954. Albert and Shirley settled in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas, where they started a family. Shirley was a devoted mother and wife who supported Albert’s farming career during this period. The Kuriyama family eventually settled in Ulysses, Kansas, where Albert was a successful sugar beet farmer in southwest Kansas. The family moved to Walsh, Colorado, in 1973, and later, Albert died from illness in 1976. Shirley moved to Guymon, Oklahoma, in 1977 and began a career in nursing. In 1982, Shirley graduated from Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas, after achieving an LVN degree in Nursing. Shirley moved to Amarillo, Texas, in 1982 and was employed by Bivins Memorial Nursing Care Home and eventually final employment as a Psych Ward nurse at William P. Clements Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Shirley retired from the correctional facility in August of 2006.

Shirley was a very spiritual Christian and was member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo. She enjoyed attending services and Bible study to nurture and grow strong in her Catholic faith while living her retired years in Amarillo.

Shirley always loved being with her family, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids during her later years. Many memories were made and shared during the events and birthdays celebrated for Shirley.

 Shirley is survived by her daughters Cindy Kuriyama of Amarillo, Tx, Nancy Laurent and husband Reggie of Amarillo, Tx, Stan Kuriyama and wife Brenda of Amarillo Tx, Kevin Kuriyama and wife Sandy of Plainview Tx, Curt Kuriyama and wife Yvette of Edmond Okla, Kelly Kuriyama and wife Denise from Porter Tx, one son-in-law Monty Teeter and wife Jean of Ulysses Ks, and one brother Jerry Gerstberger of Overland Park Ks. Shirley is proceeded in death by her husband Albert S. Kuriyama, her daughter Becky Teeter, her sisters Bernice Berning, Jola Kraus, Lillian Akagi and her parents Alfons Gerstberger and Loretta (Gerstberger) Kessler. Shirley is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and one additional great-grandchild due in February.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to either St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church of Amarillo, Texas, or St Mary's Catholic Church of Marienthal, Kansas, in honor of Shirley Jane Gerstberger Kuriyama.