On March 15, 2022, Shirley Burgess passed away peacefully at home at the age of 75 after battling colon cancer. She was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma to Lillie Hall Williams and Vernon Williams. Shirley grew up in Red Rock, Oklahoma and briefly in California while her parents worked in the orchards before returning to Red Rock. Shirley married Curtis “Go Go” Burgess Sr on March 30, 1963, and had two sons, Curtis Burgess Jr., and William “Willie” Burgess. She followed her husband to Colorado while he was a welder and shortly returned to Oklahoma to be closer to family. They lived in Enid, Oklahoma City, and Perry before making Red Rock their final home.

She became the head cook for the Red Rock school starting in 1975 and remained the head cook after the new school for Red Rock, Frontier Public Schools was built. She retired from Frontier Public Schools after more than twenty-five years. After retiring from the school, she later was elected to the Frontier Public School Board and served the community for serval years. Later she went to work at 7 Clans Paradise Casino in Red Rock. She worked at 7 Clans Paradise Casino as the head cook in the Snack Bar and Lucky 7 Diner before transferring to the procurement department, before finally retiring and staying at home with her husband.

After finally retiring, her and husband spent their time as avid gamblers. During their younger years they would go and visit family to play cards and dominoes and she would bake and cook with the other wives. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. She loved to spoil them all rotten. She always had a smile on her face and was a great listener. She loved her morning coffee, her phone calls with family and friends, a cold Diet Pepsi and enjoying a cigarette.

She is survived by her husband Curtis Burgess Sr. of 58 years, son Curtis Burgess Jr. and wife Kim of Red Rock; son Willie Burgess and wife D`Ann of Red Rock; sister Karen Most and husband Artlet of McCloud, Oklahoma; brother Nolan Williams of Idaho, grandchildren Courtney Burgess, Tiffany Burgess and Ashley Rice, great-grandchildren Larissa, Nathan and Kaidence Jefferson, Aryanna Burgess, Jaxon Mistler, Jessiah Burgess, Brody and Braydon Wallace, Alaina and Marley Rice, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Lillie and Vernon Williams, brother Luis Elton “Bubby” Williams, and sister Wanda Neiman.

An evening service will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the Otoe Cultural Center. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the Otoe Cultural Center will burial to follow immediately after at the Red Rock Cemetery.

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