Kurt C. Shirey

Kurt C. Shirey was born February 4, 1952, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Barney Leon and Theresa Roberts Shirey and departed this earthly life on January 5, 2024.

After Kurt graduated from Tecumseh High School, with the class of 1970, he received a full football scholarship to East Central State University where he stayed just a short while. After leaving school, Kurt began his law enforcement career, with the City of Shawnee, on March 21, 1977. After retiring from Shawnee, after 25 years of service, Kurt became Pottawatomie County Sheriff for 7 years. After leaving the Sheriff’s Office Kurt continued his law enforcement career with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation for 10 years before his final retirement with 42 years of dedicated service.

Kurt married the love of his life, Connie Jean Smith, on September 18, 1971, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, they had three sons, Tige, Kyle, and Heath. Kurt and Connie lived their lives together, loving each other for 52 years.

Kurt was blessed to be baptized into Christ on February 10, 1974 by his father-in-law, Les Smith.

Kurt was preceded in death by his parents, Barney Leon and Theresa Shirey; brother, Barney Wayne Shirey; mother and father-in-law, Les and Wanda Smith; sisters-in-law, Kathy and Karen Smith.

Kurt is survived by his wife, Connie Jean; sons, Tige and Amanda, Kyle and Joey and Heath Shirey; brother, Ron and Joyce Roberts; sister-in-law, Carolyn Shirey; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Larry and Leona Smith and Gary and Dana Smith; grandchildren, Dacee’ and Garrett Degelos, Ethan, Caeden, Kyler, Kayson, Zant and Kruz Shirey, great grandchild, Wren Shirey; and nieces and nephews; Shawn and Monica Roberts, Dusty and Jeff Shore, Stephanie and Tracy Bryant, Marty and Taryn Shirey, Jamie and Tony Mustin, Greg and CaSandra Shirey, Brian and Hether Shirey, Josh Smith, Tamra and Jamie Bess, Matthew and Anna Smith, Chad and Bonnie Smith, Chad Smith, Lindsay and Gary Watkins; and other loved ones and dear friends.

Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Gibson, Jim Patten, Harvey Ryan, Lee Minick, Todd Hignite, Tom Kennedy, Shawn Roberts, Greg Shirey, and Brian Shirey.                                                         

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Family Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at Cooper Funeral Home. Service will be held 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024 at the Highland Church of Christ Tecumseh with Marty Shirey of Full Circle Pentecostal Church and Greg Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.