Betty Gay Kirby

Betty G. Kirby was born on August 8, 1938, in Liberty Hill, Texas, and passed away early in the morning of May 31, 2016, in Hanford, California, at the age of 77. Betty passed peacefully with both of her daughters by her side.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband James K. Kirby, son Gordon V. Powell, sister Glendene Kesel, mother Helen Gale, and father Charles Elroy Shuffield.

Betty is survived by her daughters Debby Powell and Sydney Highfill (Russell), grandchildren Heather Allen (fiancé Marc Chua), Justus Highfill, Sarah Whisler (Tyler), Rebecca Highfill, and Samantha Highfill, and great-granddaughter Lydia.

Betty is also survived by her husband Jim’s daughters Jan Kirby McCorkle and Diane Milton (Rick), sons Bill Kirby and Ken Kirby (Ana), grandsons Jacob Milton (Victoria), Nathan Milton and great-grandsons Damien, Jacob II, Elliott.

Betty retired from Beacon Oil Company after many years, but her great passion was traveling, which she continued to do up until the time she was no longer able. She went on a truly memorable European tour, numerous cruises, and an untold number of local and distant RV trips both on her own and as a member of the Kings Kampers RV group. At various times during her life Betty was a member of the Square Eights square dancing group, the Hanford Garden Club, various First Baptist Church groups, and a local charitable sorority group. In more recent years Betty enjoyed lunching with her group of girlfriends affectionately known as the Wednesday Group.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA. The private interment of Betty’s ashes at the Grangeville Cemetery, next to her late husband Jim and within sight of her late son Gordon, will take place the following day.

Those who wish to make donations in Betty’s memory may donate to the National Stroke Association, 9707 E. Easter Lane, Suite B, Centennial, CO 80112, or the donor’s favorite charity.