1916
Cora
2013
Cora Connie Kirkman
August 24, 1916 — December 27, 2013
Cora "Connie" Shires Kirkman, 97, of Amarillo died December 27, 2013.
Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 31 in the First Baptist Church, Amarillo, 1208 S. Tyler Street, in the main church with the Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating assisted by Corky Holland, Minister of Pastoral Care and Senior Adults. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo.
The body will lay in-state at the Kirkman pioneer family homestead at 1600 S. Bonham from 9:00am till 8:00pm for the next days until two hours prior to the funeral time. Friends are welcomed to come by and pay their respects. There will also be a reception following the funeral at the Kirkman homestead; all are welcomed to attend in memory of Connie.
Born August 24, 1916 in Houston, Texas to Stella Belnap Shires and George M. Shires, Connie was home schooled with her two sisters by Ruby Taylor and received her High School Diploma in 1933. She also attended the American School in Chicago, Illinois and received her degree in 1940. Connie also attended the University of Houston where she studied voice and music.
She met and in 1950 married Jay U. Kirkman, Jr. from the pioneer family of Amarillo, which has just celebrated 140 years in Amarillo. Connie gave up a very promising voice and opera career to relocate to Amarillo. She was a gifted metso soprano musician mastering classical and religionist music playing the piano and guitar. Connie sang in the First Baptist Choir in Houston and was a National Member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild of New York City. She was also very active in the Houston Opera Company. During World War II she and her two younger sisters volunteered at the local Houston hospital as nurses’ aides.
Connie was a member of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo for over 50 years and her faith was the guiding light and direction in her entire life.
After relocating to Amarillo, Connie raised two daughters and one son. Connie was a life-long homemaker and devoted her time to raising her family as well as three step daughters from her husband's previous marriages. As her daughters got older, Connie volunteered to be a Girl Scout troop leader. She was also very active in the PTA (parents-teacher-association). After raising her family and helping her husband in family businesses, Connie grew fond of the political process and for over 25 years served as election judge for precinct 108-Bivins. Connie immersed herself in local, regional, state and national politics. She became very active in the Democratic Party in the 1980's and 1990's, holding numerous positions and as a repeated delegate to the State Democratic Party State Conventions. She was honored by being selected as the personal escort for Mrs. Walter Mondale on her tour of the Texas Panhandle for her husband, Vice President Walter Mondale, running for President of the United States. Connie devoted hundreds of hours to promote and elect female and minority candidates to public office.
Connie had two younger sisters; her middle sister was Elaine Shires, and her younger sister, LaVerne Carmicial. Both are deceased. Connie is survived by two daughters, Karen Chudej, Carla Olson and one son, Jay U. Kirkman, III. Connie is also survived by one nephew, three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nursing and care givers at the Arbors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church of Amarillo and their Television Ministry.
Burial will be in Houston, Texas at the Shires family plot at Forest Park Cemetery.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com
Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 31 in the First Baptist Church, Amarillo, 1208 S. Tyler Street, in the main church with the Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating assisted by Corky Holland, Minister of Pastoral Care and Senior Adults. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo.
The body will lay in-state at the Kirkman pioneer family homestead at 1600 S. Bonham from 9:00am till 8:00pm for the next days until two hours prior to the funeral time. Friends are welcomed to come by and pay their respects. There will also be a reception following the funeral at the Kirkman homestead; all are welcomed to attend in memory of Connie.
Born August 24, 1916 in Houston, Texas to Stella Belnap Shires and George M. Shires, Connie was home schooled with her two sisters by Ruby Taylor and received her High School Diploma in 1933. She also attended the American School in Chicago, Illinois and received her degree in 1940. Connie also attended the University of Houston where she studied voice and music.
She met and in 1950 married Jay U. Kirkman, Jr. from the pioneer family of Amarillo, which has just celebrated 140 years in Amarillo. Connie gave up a very promising voice and opera career to relocate to Amarillo. She was a gifted metso soprano musician mastering classical and religionist music playing the piano and guitar. Connie sang in the First Baptist Choir in Houston and was a National Member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild of New York City. She was also very active in the Houston Opera Company. During World War II she and her two younger sisters volunteered at the local Houston hospital as nurses’ aides.
Connie was a member of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo for over 50 years and her faith was the guiding light and direction in her entire life.
After relocating to Amarillo, Connie raised two daughters and one son. Connie was a life-long homemaker and devoted her time to raising her family as well as three step daughters from her husband's previous marriages. As her daughters got older, Connie volunteered to be a Girl Scout troop leader. She was also very active in the PTA (parents-teacher-association). After raising her family and helping her husband in family businesses, Connie grew fond of the political process and for over 25 years served as election judge for precinct 108-Bivins. Connie immersed herself in local, regional, state and national politics. She became very active in the Democratic Party in the 1980's and 1990's, holding numerous positions and as a repeated delegate to the State Democratic Party State Conventions. She was honored by being selected as the personal escort for Mrs. Walter Mondale on her tour of the Texas Panhandle for her husband, Vice President Walter Mondale, running for President of the United States. Connie devoted hundreds of hours to promote and elect female and minority candidates to public office.
Connie had two younger sisters; her middle sister was Elaine Shires, and her younger sister, LaVerne Carmicial. Both are deceased. Connie is survived by two daughters, Karen Chudej, Carla Olson and one son, Jay U. Kirkman, III. Connie is also survived by one nephew, three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the wonderful nursing and care givers at the Arbors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church of Amarillo and their Television Ministry.
Burial will be in Houston, Texas at the Shires family plot at Forest Park Cemetery.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cora Connie Kirkman, please visit our flower store.