Freeman Kirby Sr.
(1937 - 2011)

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General Details

Name:	Mr Freeman Kirby Sr.
Gender:	Male
Age:	73 years old
Lived:	Monday, 10 May 1937 - Wednesday, 16 February 2011

My Story

Freeman Girard Kirby Sr. ,age 73, died after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s Disease. Like everything he did, he handled this relentless neurological illness with grace, determination, and no complaints. Yes, Parkinson’s was a mighty foe, and did steadily steal dad’s body, but his spirit flew high many years after Parkinson’s had laid claim to his body.

He is survived by his children, Rodd Kirby (44) and Wendy Kirby MD (42), his sisters Donna Kirby and Jerry Bramblett, his grandchildren Cameron (15) and Nicki (3)Kirby, Jackson (10) and Jordan(6) Speets and many nieces and nephews. We lost mom, Dottie Kirby, last year, and many suspect that dad died of a broken heart.

Dad was born in Chamblee Georgia. His early days were spent on a dairy farm in Fayetteville, Georgia. It was there that he learned all about hard work, going after your own dreams, and being your own man. He married our mother, Dottie, back in 1964 and gave her a beautiful life with love, security, 2 kids and lots of Limoges!

After travelling with Westinghouse for a few years, dad had a fulfilling career at Power Systems and Destec, building co-generation plants. Dad gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues with his great mind, his natural ability, his leadership, his fairness, and that Kirby patience/stubbornness.

His favorite place was always high up in the air, in any kind of plane. By nature, dad was a pilot, always thinking about those planes, always searching for little airports anywhere we travelled. He enjoyed flying single engines, twin engines, T-34s and his “labor of love” the Cub. It’s no wonder that it didn’t take much to convince dad to move to Skinner Road with a run-way in the backyard (he would probably have agreed to pitch a tent as long as the runway was back there!)

He taught all of us so much. My brother Rodd and I saw first hand what a good man looks like, and first hand how a great man lives. Dad helped Rodd with some of his early businesses and unselfishly put us both through lots of years at Baylor, and continued his support for my medical school and residency. We learned the value of hard work, the necessity of values, and saw stability anywhere dad stood, whether he was running his business affairs, loving mom, or providing for us.

Words will never do justice to who he was. For those of us who knew him, we were blessed to see such a great example of a truly great man. Fly high dad, fly high.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Dr. Marcus Bramblett Sr. at Addicks United Methodist Church, 1212 Highway 6 North on Sunday, Feb. 20th, 2011 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting any donations go to http://www.michaeljfox.org to help find a cure for Parkinson’s. Also visit www.freemankirby.com

http://www.michaeljfox.org

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Biography

Fathers Name:	Dwight Kirby
Mothers Name:	Louise Kirby
Spouse's Name:	Dottie Kirby
Children's Names:	Wendy and Rodd
Siblings Names:	Gerry and Donna
Country of Birth:	USA
Country of Residence:	USA
City of Residence:	Cypress
Occupation:	Engineering
Marital Status:	Widowed
Religion:	Born Again Christian