Updated: 06 Sep 2009

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JAMES R. SHIRLEY
Sapulpa Herald, Creek Co., OK
08-08-1993

DeKalb, Ill. - James R. Shirley, 67, of DeKalb, Ill. Died Thursday, Aug 5, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

He was born Nov 28, 1925 in Sapulpa, the son of Houston Ilif and Gracie I. (Berryhill) Shirley. He married Helen Wenderoth in DeKalb on Aug 13, 1972.

He was a professor of Chinese History at Northern Illinois University for 32 years and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during WWII.

He is survived by his wife, Helen of DeKalb; daughters, Laura Kempton of Minneapolis, Minn., Linda Furs of Queens, N.Y., Susan Mills of Minneapolis, Minn., Julie Ryder of DeKalb, Lisa Shirley of Toronto, Canada; son, Louis Shirley of DeKalb; grandchildren, Mari, Tyler, Andrew and Alexei; sister, Nellie Sue Edmiston of Houston, Tex.; brothers, Thomas Shirley of Austin, Tex. And Houston Shirley of Sapulpa.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son, Larry Shirley, and sister, Margaret.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. Arrangements were completed by the Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb, Ill.

JAMES R. SHIRLEY
Sapulpa Herald, Creek Co., OK
09-20-1993

DE KALB, ILL. - A memorial service was held Saturday for James R. Shirley, 67, who died Aug 5. Shirley was a historian for the Northern Illinois University.

Shirley was born Nov 28, 1925 in Sapulpa, the son of Houston and Gracie Berryhill Shirley. He earned a bachelors degree in 1950 from the University of Tulsa and a masters and doctoral from the University of California at Berkeley.

Shirley is survived by his wife, Helen Wenderoth Shirley of DeKalb; daughters Laura Kempton and Susan Mills of Minneapolis, Linda Furs of Queens, N.Y., Julie Ryder of DeKalb, and Lisa Shirley of Toronto; son Louis Shirley of DeKalb; sister Nellie Sue Edmiston of Houston; brothers Thomas Shirley of Austin and Houston Shirley of Sapulpa; and four grandchildren.