The life of Shirley Joan Gatzke — born December 11, 1931 and passing on June 28, 2022 — was celebrated on Sunday, August 21, 2022.

Her two sons, Dave and Mark, and daughter, Debbie, were joined by her son-in-law, Steve, Steve’s sister Susan, daughter-in-law Carol, and grandchildren Ben, Nicole, Colin and Brandon, and Colin’s girlfriend, Michelle and her daughter for a family gathering beginning at the river.

Memories were shared of fishing trips and time floating on the river. Shirley was never much of a fisherman, but she loved to read. So she and Russ made a good team — one fishing and one reading.

The family traveled north to the beach remembering Shirley’s love of agate hunting, playing in the sand, and roasting hot dogs.

This special morning culminated with a visit to Shirley’s butterfly garden where memories of gardening, raspberries, blueberries, apples, the ice cream tree, and target practice were shared. Everyone picked two agate from the collection-one to keep and one to place in the garden. Two plaques were placed to remember Shirley and Russ, who passed in 2011. They will always be together in a placed they loved.

Alexandra, Shirley’s granddaughter, will visit on August 27th to complete our family celebration.

Shirley had six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She loved to play cards and had a room in her home ready to play at a moment’s notice. Shirley also enjoyed her visits to the McKinleyville Senior Center and the wonderful friends she made there.

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The obituary above was submitted by Shirley Gatzke’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.