Shelia Maxine Kirkland

Memorial Services for Shelia Kirkland, 67, of Corrigan will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Corrigan Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the Corrigan Area Heritage Center.

Shelia was born December 25, 1954 in Lufkin, Texas to Henry and Maxine (Loving) Kirkland and passed away Friday, September 9, 2022 in Houston.

Shelia was a Baptist by faith and a member of First Baptist Church in Corrigan. She graduated from Corrigan High School in 1973. Shortly after graduation, she attended the University of Houston and SFA to further her education. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree as a teacher. She worked as a paraprofessional for 5 years at the Corrigan High School. Later, she taught Texas History at Corrigan Jr. High and retired in 2014 after 25 years. She decided to go back to work as a substitute teacher for several more years.

Shelia never had any children of her own, but sure loved her nieces and nephews as if they were hers. She was known as “She-She” by the great nieces and nephews and carried the title proudly. She enjoyed watching them play sports and followed them wherever they went. She also enjoyed watching basketball, whether live or on tv.

For a time, when the Corrigan Times was still in print, she wrote a bi-weekly column, Treasure Trove. The column originated as a promotional fodder for the Heritage Center and the treasure it holds. However, it also provided a colorful look into the past. The memories Corrigan longed for. A Texas History “professional” and educator by trade, her vision for the center’s opportunity to coordinate with Corrigan-Camden ISD presenting programs to local students was phenomenal. She organized a number of events, aligning lesson plans and state requirements with collections from the center’s holdings, covering not only the subject of History, but also Science, Math and English. Shelia’s efforts allowed students, teachers, and the school at large, access to educational opportunities outside of the classroom. Opportunities that may have not been available to our children otherwise, whether due to funding, time, or other obstacles. Shelia was also a driving force for special events and exhibits. She always had a plan. As the center’s “unofficial chief archivist” and documentarian, she knew most every article in the organization’s holding. It seems every item she documented was retained in a special file in her brain; files that were organized for a potential lesson plan or displays. She spent hour upon hour at the center. Accomplishing many things that often left us wondering what kind of magician she must be. She could make anything happen or appear. When Shelia wanted something, well somehow, she most always managed to get it. She was definitely a “treasure” to many in many capacities, for many years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Maxine Kirkland; and brother, Don Kirkland.

She is survived by her sister, Brenda Rogers; aunt, Bobbie Hill; nieces and nephews, Nikki Wright and husband Craig, Eric Marsh and wife Anne, Kelli Cross and husband Dan, Michael Kirkland and wife Kallie; and Jessie Provost and husband Brian; great nieces and nephews, Weston, Morgan, Connor, Tucker, Sawyer, Ben, Evie, Georgia, and Hawk; sister-in-law, Shirley Kirkland and other relatives and friends.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Corrigan Area Heritage Center.

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