Norris Franklin Kirby

Our beloved PaPa passed away on February 14th, 2022. Norris Franklin Kirby was born on September 14, 1932 to Wesley Kirby and Ona Cavner Kirby in Mill Creek, Oklahoma. He was married to Oletta Marie Simpson on March 4, 1954 in Gainesville, Texas. They had two children, Latricia (Cricket) Justus and Kathy Long.

Norris enlisted in the Army at the young age of 17. He and his older brother, Bob Kirby, were in the 45th Division together. He served in the Korean War and earned several medals of honor including a Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Star. Norris was a welder by trade and union member of Local #344 for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge #657 and a Scottish Rite 32nd degree mason.

PaPa, as known by his grandchildren and their friends, was a true outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, and playing golf. He also enjoyed Sudoku puzzles and Tuesday night dinners with the family. He had lived the last sixty years in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Norris was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Oletta, his parents Wesley and Ona, four brothers, Wesley Kirby Jr. and his wife Martha, Eugene “Tite” Kirby and his wife Renee, Bob Kirby, and Douglas Kirby; three sisters, Bernice Wood and her husband, Leon, Pat Pittman and husband Floyd, and Christine Thompson.

PaPa was survived by his two daughters, Cricket and Kathy and her husband Stephen Long, three grandchildren, Stephanie Litherland and her husband Eric, Zakary Long and his wife, Julieta, and Chad Justus; six great grandchildren, Edan and Sutton Litherland, Olivia, Emry and Leighton Long, and BrynLeigh Justus. Also, he was survived by two sister in laws, Lawana Kirby and Grace Kirby and many nieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfh.com for the Kirby family.