Shirley R. Kortkamp, age 90, of Liverpool, NY, passed away on July 14, 2023. Shirley was born on December 8, 1932 in Ogdensburg, NY, the daughter of Florence Edna Taylor McNairn and William Waurick McNairn. She grew up in the small but bustling town of Morristown located on the shore of the St. Lawrence River as the youngest sister to Dorothy and Betty.

Shirley graduated from Morristown High School and attended Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, NY, where she trained and worked as an X-Ray technologist. A few years later she took the opportunity to advance her career at Crouse Irving Hospital in Syracuse, NY, where she worked until the birth of her first child in 1967. In 1980, she reinitiate her career at St. Camillus Nursing and Rehab Center in Syracuse, NY. She worked as a part time X-ray technologist until her retirement in 1996.

Soon after moving to Syracuse, she captured the heart of her to-be husband, who had come to Syracuse from Wisconsin only a couple of months earlier to work at General Electric, at an evening singles group function at the University United Methodist Church in Syracuse, NY. She married Donald Howard Kortkamp on December 1, 1962, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ogdensburg, NY. They then moved into their current home in Liverpool, where they raised their three children; Krista, Keven, and Kenneth.

Over the years, Shirley and Don shared many adventures and traveled to many countries, including a four month summer-long cross country adventure in their RV to the Yukon and Alaska. Shirley never lost her connection and joy of the water, and the natural beauties it held. Shirley and Don were active members of the Henderson Harbor Yacht Club, and loved sailing and kayaking in the waters of Lake Ontario, the Adirondacks and beyond. Even in her final days she enjoyed sitting at the cottage on the lakeshore looking out at the birds and peaceful water in the company of her family.

Shirley had a beautiful smile, youthful energy, and sweet and tender heart. She maintained the motivation to always keep learning and exploring. She took life as it came, and always looked positively to the future. She was especially proud of and deeply loved her children and grandchildren, through whom her legacy will live on.

She is predeceased by her sisters Dorothy McNairn Fishel and Elizabeth McNairn Courtney, son Keven Donald Kortkamp, and daughter-in-law Susie Krieger Kortkamp.

She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years Donald, and their children; Krista and her husband, Robert, of Ballston Spa, NY, and Kenneth of Novato, CA; three grandchildren, Haley, Christian, and Willa and 7 nieces and nephews.

Please sign the Maurer Funeral Home, Inc. on-line guest book for Shirley to express your condolences to her family.