Kirby Joe Kegans

November 5, 1925. As a young boy, the family moved to Tulia, TX. At age 13 his family

moved to Tucson, Arizona for Eli’s health. There they operated a chicken farm in the Emery

Park area until later moving to their final family home in South Tucson. He

married Doris Lucille McKinney shortly before he and his brother left to serve in the U. S. Army

Air Corp. He served in Okinawa as a radio communications installer until the end of WWII.

When he returned to Doris, he built a home on Southland Boulevard near her family in the

Sunnyside School District. Kirby was a hard worker for Watkin's Upholstery (the family

business,) he later owned a service station on South Sixth Avenue, then served in South Lawn

Memorial Park where his body will lay, he joined Gibson's Stationary and ultimately opened his own

office supply, Kirby's Office Supply. In retirement, he spent his time managing the game room

at the Tucson Mall and chauffeuring adults visiting Tucson to shopping venues.

Kirby never knew a stranger and served on the Sunnyside Unified School District School

Board for eight years with other fine men. Kirby's son and daughter graduated from

Sunnyside High School. Both of his children enjoyed band and Kathy sang with the chorus in the new

music building that was dedicated under his service on the school board. During that

time, the Kegans family had moved to Ganley Road, very close to the high school.

Mr. Kegans served as a Sunday School teacher for the college students at Emory Park

Baptist Church. After his children were successfully out of their first home, he and

Doris moved to East Tucson where they enjoyed about 35 years with good neighbors.

Kirby lost the love of his life in August 2016, after over 70 years of marriage. After a few

years, he moved back to Texas with his son, Kurtis, and his daughter-in-law, Sandy.

Last year, he spent time in Hopkins Place Assisted Living. In November of this year, he began to

have to visit the hospital in Sulphur Springs, Texas. His children visited with him there as he

was transferred to a nice rehabilitation home, Carriage House, only to have to return to

Hopkins Place and CHRISTUS Hospital where he received wonderful care while he waited to go

to Heaven.

At 98 years, one month and 15 days, God called Kirby home where he is reunited

in person with Jesus, his wife, Doris, his mother, Lula, and his oldest grandson, Kevin Johnson

among a host of family and friends in whom he invested his life.

A funeral service for Kirby will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St John's United Methodist Church, 60 W Veterans Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Funeraria del Angel South Lawn, 5401 South Park Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706.