Tilmon "Coach" Kirby

On January 30th, 2016 at 4:02 a.m., Horace Tilmon “Coach” Kirby went to rest with his Lord and Savior. Coach lived the majority of his childhood in Goldthwaite, Texas, and experienced a fun-filled upbringing while growing an exceptional passion for the Football Field and the Shot Put Ring. He earned all state honors in the Shot Put and was granted a scholarship to play for Texas Western at his favorite position, Quarterbacking the Miners. After the completion of college he continued his desire for the love of football by entering the coaching profession, and was on many different staffs, most notably Travis Middle School and Temple High School. Coach then transitioned into a new discovery, the youth of Temple, when he accepted the Executive Director position for the Ralph Wilson Youth Club in the late seventies. He served in the same position until his day of retirement. Coach was a father first, but mentored many different lives on the way through his style of leadership that has been quoted as being “one of a kind.” Coach also served on numerous community focus groups, including the Kiwanis Club, TISD School Board, and The United Way of Central Texas. His intense passion for the growth of Temple’s youth was immense and continued to be the key focus of his endurance while fathering and grandfathering his family. The individual accomplishments are numerous, the intensity for his never ending compassion for the youth of Temple is immeasurable, and the lives in which he has influenced, in only the way “Coach” can, are endless. His ongoing commitment to his work and his family have been an inspiration to so many lives stretched across the State of Texas. He is survived by; his children, Melissa Kirby Curtis and Husband Jason Curtis, Michael Kirby, and Natalie Kirby Nelson and Husband Robert Nelson. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Breyanna York, Shane Kirby, Presleigh York, Emily Curtis, Benjamin Curtis, Abigail Curtis, and Miles Nelson. He is preceded in death by; his Mother Willie Belle Doggett, his Father Horace Townsend Kirby, his Brothers William (Billy) Harold Anderson and Herman Ray Anderson, and his Sister Aletha Nan McCartney. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at Scanio Harper Funeral Home in Temple with Dr. George Harrison presiding. Memorial gifts in Coach Kirby’s memory can be made to the Ralph Wilson Youth Club, Coach Tilmon Kirby Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1346, Temple 76503.