Obituary of Erika Nicole Shurtliff

On Wednesday, June 8th, 2022, Erika Nicole Shurtliff, loving mother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away at the age of 42. Erika was born on October 8, 1979 in Corvallis, Oregon to James Shurtliff and Carol (Buxton) Mick. To carry on her legacy of kindness, generosity and compassion, Erika leaves her children, Tyler Sokol and Aiden Sokol. She is also survived by her mother and father, brother Aaron (Kelli) Shurtliff, sister Tiffaney Shurtliff, step-sisters Julie (Majo) Ahrens and Erin Mick. She is preceded in death by her step-father, Dr. Alfred Mick. Among her many achievements, her sons were undoubtedly her greatest sense of pride and joy. They were never short on stories and laughs about their experiences together as a family. She welcomed every opportunity to create traditions and special memories with them, always ensuring they knew how deeply they are loved. Erika danced through each day as a lover of all things nature and adventure. Whether on her paddleboard, surfing, hiking a mountain, camping or traveling the world, she always pursued adventures that would bring her equal parts exploration, challenge and fun. She modeled what it means to be a free spirit and to welcome everyone, bringing about comfort and reassurance to those fortunate enough to be in her company. Her gentleness with others was only matched by her independence and determination to do things her way. She broke barriers, such as becoming the first female meat cutter for her then employer, bought her own house, ran her own business for nearly two decades and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Oregon State University as a working, single mother. Erika’s home was a hub within her community, a place where many gathered for BBQs, bonfires, dance parties and giggles for the little ones. Guests beware, Erika would outmatch you with her wit, top your jokes and found humor in the everyday stories shared. Her sense of humor would leave you questioning if you had in fact just heard what you thought you did. She cooked creatively in the kitchen, leaving you wanting more and asking for the recipe of that yummy dish she made. While her days with us were far too short and leaves us with a deep sense of loss, her impact on our hearts and minds is everlasting.