Obituary for Charley Kirby

Charley Lee Kirby – Veteran

(June 8, 1934 – April 11, 2017)

Charley Lee Kirby of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Tuesday evening, April 11, 2017, in the Stillwater Medical Center at the age of 82 years.

Charley Lee Kirby was born on June 8, 1934, in Colcord, Oklahoma, to John and Ellen (Dill) Kirby. He grew up in Colcord and attended Colcord Public Schools. Following his education he entered the United States Air Force serving in Greenland during the Korean Conflict. He later transferred to the Oklahoma National Guard where he was honorably discharged on June 8, 1994. On January 30, 1954, he married Mary Alice Crittenden and they settled in Washington D.C. where he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. In 1956 they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, before moving to Blackwell in 1957 where he began working at the Blackwell Zinc Company for a short time. He then became a heavy equipment operator for Aud Roberts and worked for the Corps of Engineers on the Kaw Lake project. He later drove a truck for Groendyke Trucking in Ponca City before retiring from Max Well Service where he drove heavy equipment. His wife preceded him in death in 2010 and he continued to make Blackwell his home. He was a member of the Nazarene Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the D.A.V. where he served as an officer. He enjoyed watching WWE wrestling and westerns on television. He loved to visit with neighbors and coffee shop friends, his animals, and attending his grandchildren’s various activities.

He is survived by two daughters, Patsy Haught and husband Richard of Blackwell and Sharla Sutton and husband Andy of Nardin; a son, David Kirby of Blackwell; two sisters, Shirley of Colorado and Nelda of Colcord; five grandchildren, Keith and Evan Haught of Blackwell, Stephen Sutton of Deer Creek, Ashley Whitehouse of Ponca City, and Arin Payne of Blackwell; and eight great grandchildren, Sciden Haught of Blackwell, Scott, Garrison, Lane and Hadelyn Sutton of Deer Creek, Keystan Snow of Blackwell, and Gracie and David Whitehouse of Ponca City.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Terry Kirby; a daughter-in-law, Tammie Kirby; a sister, Coleeta; and four brothers, Troy, Johnny, Danny and Wesley.

Services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 14th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel with James W. Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Evan Haught, Keith Haught, Stephen Sutton, Andy Sutton, Fred Heath and Zac Payne.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Shriner’s Hospital in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.