Obituary for Donnie Gene Kirby
Donnie Gene Kirby, age 77, of Duke, passed away early Thursday morning, September 15, 2011, at his home, in Duke.
Mr. Kirby was born in Olustee, Oklahoma, on August 27, 1934, to Leonard and Ruby (Dodson) Kirby. After graduating from Victory School in 1952, Donnie worked on the railroad and for a seismograph crew, for a short time, before joining the United States Army as a helicopter mechanic. On June 11, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Bonnie Bilbrey, and they spent the next fifty-six wonderful years together before his death. Shortly after their marriage, the Army took them to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina where he was later discharged. Donnie attended Oklahoma University for one year before beginning work for Halliburton Services, which took them to Oklahoma City and Woodward. Leaving the oilfield work, the family moved to Duke where Donnie worked for the Hollis and Eastern Railroad for several years. In 1968, the Kirbys moved to Altus and Donnie began working for the U.S. Postal service for the next twenty-seven years. After his retirement, he spent two years farming, with his son, Kent, and later worked for Southwest Transit for ten years until his health began to fail in August 2010. Donnie loved sports and refereed basketball and football and umpired baseball games for many years. Having never met a stranger, Donnie loved his family and friends and his next meal was the best meal he ever had.
Preceded in death by his parents and one brother, E.R. (Red) Kirby, he is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of the home, in Duke; two sons, Kent Kirby and wife Kathy of Duke and Kyle Kirby and wife Jackie of Chickasha; four grandchildren, Kory Kirby and wife Heather, Kristen Keck and husband Tim, Chelsea Kirby and Kai Kirby and wife Ciera; eight great grandchildren, Kennedy Kirby, Erick Kirby, Kaleb Kirby, Kaylee Keck, Alyssa Keck, Kasen Kirby, Kanon Clift and Kalen Clift; two sisters, Darlene McClure and husband Major and Linda Waldrop and husband Don; one brother, J.W. Kirby and wife Marilyn along with many other relatives and a host of friends.
Graveside services for Donnie Kirby will be at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Duke Rock Cemetery with Darrell Smalts and Dave Carraway officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
09/15/2011
8:00 AM
1:00 PM
Viewing
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
09/18/2011
2:30 PM
Graveside
Duke Rock Cemetery
Duke
OK
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Mr. Kirby was born in Olustee, Oklahoma, on August 27, 1934, to Leonard and Ruby (Dodson) Kirby. After graduating from Victory School in 1952, Donnie worked on the railroad and for a seismograph crew, for a short time, before joining the United States Army as a helicopter mechanic. On June 11, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Bonnie Bilbrey, and they spent the next fifty-six wonderful years together before his death. Shortly after their marriage, the Army took them to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina where he was later discharged. Donnie attended Oklahoma University for one year before beginning work for Halliburton Services, which took them to Oklahoma City and Woodward. Leaving the oilfield work, the family moved to Duke where Donnie worked for the Hollis and Eastern Railroad for several years. In 1968, the Kirbys moved to Altus and Donnie began working for the U.S. Postal service for the next twenty-seven years. After his retirement, he spent two years farming, with his son, Kent, and later worked for Southwest Transit for ten years until his health began to fail in August 2010. Donnie loved sports and refereed basketball and football and umpired baseball games for many years. Having never met a stranger, Donnie loved his family and friends and his next meal was the best meal he ever had.
Preceded in death by his parents and one brother, E.R. (Red) Kirby, he is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of the home, in Duke; two sons, Kent Kirby and wife Kathy of Duke and Kyle Kirby and wife Jackie of Chickasha; four grandchildren, Kory Kirby and wife Heather, Kristen Keck and husband Tim, Chelsea Kirby and Kai Kirby and wife Ciera; eight great grandchildren, Kennedy Kirby, Erick Kirby, Kaleb Kirby, Kaylee Keck, Alyssa Keck, Kasen Kirby, Kanon Clift and Kalen Clift; two sisters, Darlene McClure and husband Major and Linda Waldrop and husband Don; one brother, J.W. Kirby and wife Marilyn along with many other relatives and a host of friends.
Graveside services for Donnie Kirby will be at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, September 18, 2011, at Duke Rock Cemetery with Darrell Smalts and Dave Carraway officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
09/15/2011
8:00 AM
1:00 PM
Viewing
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
09/18/2011
2:30 PM
Graveside
Duke Rock Cemetery
Duke
OK
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