Obit Index
Updated: 17 Jan 2012

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
Sunday, April 20, 2008

She attended Lindenwood College and the University of Oklahoma. Her graduate work was in history at OU. She taught in the Oklahoma City Public Schools until 1954 when the school board gave her a year's leave to write a history of Oklahoma City which would be used in the junior high social studies program. In 1956 she became executive director of the OKC Council of the Camp Fire Girls, with the additional responsibility as director of Cam Cimarron, a position she retained until her retirement in 1979, taught turnpike toll operators (getting ready for opening the Turner Turnpike). Through the years Lucyl has followed a path of civic involvement, having served on the boards of the Mental Health Association, Westerners International, OKC Beautiful, AXO House Corporation, the Fire Fighters' Museum, Oklahoma county Historical Society, Harn Gardens, Inc. She has been associated actively with various organizations such as Kappa Kappa Iote (local and state president), Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae (chairman eight years), Pilot Internation (local president and District Governor) and Oklahoma Warren's Posse (Sheriff), First Families of the Twin Territories. Lucyl has traveled extensively from the Taj Mahal to a safari in east Africa, criss crossing Australia. The accompanying picture is aboard the Trans Cauadiou Railroad in 1996. She holds certificates as a Master Mule Skinner in the Grand Canyon, The Colorado River Runners and Sourtoe River Rat of the Yukon. Following the philosophy of her brother George ''community service is the rent you pay for your time here on earth'' she has done volunteer work at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Harn Homestead, and 1889er Museum, Goodholm Mansion, Camp Cimarron, Pilot Center, AC A Camp inspection, the Antique Show of Greater Oklahoma City, and for the United Daughters of the Confederacy. For many years she actively sponsored the Chapter #4 of the Confederacy. Recognition awards have included the Cardinal Service Award, Byliners Award, Honoring Territorial Governor of Oklahoma, Hidden Heroine of the Girl Scouts, Golden Lyre Award, and hi 1997 the NSDAR Award for community service. From UDC she has received certificates of Merit from Division and General, the Driver Award, the Mrs. Frank J. Douglas Award, and highest of all, the Jefferson Davis Gold Medal and the Distinguished Alumni Award (OHS).

Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation Carrie H. Shirk Fund, Heart of Oklahoma Council of Camp Fire or Free to Live.

Lucyl is survived by her nieces, Janis Buchholz and Kristen Snyder and nephew Michael Shirk. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Hahn-Cook Street & Draper Funeral Home advised burial at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Date:1969 Feb 18
The Camp Fire Girls of Oklahoma City Council have a new headquarters - a spacious white brick house with a Spanish flair just down the street from the State Capitol

The girls paid for it themselves, using money accumulated over the years from their annual candy sales. Located at 717 NE 21 the private residence has the atmosphere of a gracious, cozy home.

Miss Lucyl Shirk, executive director of the Council has an office on the first floor area. Her office includes two items of particular interest, her father, John Henry Shirk's desk and a doll closet, built around 1910 which holds Miss Shirk's collection of about 50 dolls in native costumes.

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, January 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

I believe in random acts of kindness and I believe in sharing genealogy. If you have copies of photos, obituaries, wills, biographies, or stories relating to any of these families or other Oklahoma County families, would you consider sending them my way for publication at this site?

I always welcome comments and corrections.