JAMES L. KIRBY

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for James Luther Kirby of East Prairie Route 1 was held Saturday at St. James General Baptist Church. The Rev. Buddy Hannah officiated, with burial in Anniston Cemetery.

Shelby Funeral Home here was in charge of arrangements.

Kirby, 75 years old, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born April 1, 1915, in East Prairie, son of Ernest and Ada White Kirby. He and the former Betty June Grubbs were married in 1946.

Kirby retired in 1974 from Brown Shoe Co., where he worked 30 years. He was a member of St. James Church, where he was a former Sunday School superintendent and deacon many years. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ernie Kirby of East Prairie, James Kirby Jr. of Eaker Air Force Base, Ark.; a daughter, Linda Childers of East Prairie; a sister, Goldie Keene of East Prairie; 19 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, his mother, father, and stepfather, Bert Carnahan.