Gene C. Kirk
Gene Conrad Kirk
October 17, 1932 ~ November 30, 2017
Gene Conrad Kirk was born October 17, 1932 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri to Roy Connor Kirk and Edith Eugene Hopper. He was the eldest son and one of ten children. He was raised in Ukiah, California. He graduated Valedictorian of his high school class in 1950. He moved back to Missouri in 1951 and there he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
In July 1954, he met the love of his life Rachel Ann Riley and they were married December 20, 1954. They were sealed in the Manti LDS Temple on October 20, 1959.
He was blessed with six children, four of whom are still living: Deborah Ann (Wade) Southam, deceased: Douglas Gene (Marie) Kirk; Rebecca Garnell (Darrell) Matthews; Richard Conrad Kirk, deceased; Cynthia Marie (Cory) Jones; and Jeffrey Morgan (Karri) Kirk. He has 19 living grandchildren and one deceased grandson. He has 25 great-grandchildren.
He served in the United States Navy from March 1956 to October 1957 on active duty and then served 6 years in the Naval Reserves.
He was an English teacher at Western Illinois University. He taught for two years at Southeastern Louisiana State University, He taught four years at the LDS Church College of New Zealand. He taught for 21 years for the Uintah School District. He had a lifelong passion for knowledge and learning and fostered that in each of his children and students.
He loved John Wayne movies, vanilla ice cream with warm apple pie, Looney Tunes cartoons, gardening, reading and traveling with his sweet wife. He was a voracious reader and loved to read newspapers from all over the world. He had a very quick wit and loved to tell jokes. He was the best example of a gentleman, father, grandfather, and great grandfather anyone could ask for.
He is survived by his wife Rachel and his four children. He was predeceased by his parents, two children, one grandson, one great grandson and six siblings.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 11AM at the Glines 6th Ward LDS Chapel (78 South Aggie Blvd.). A viewing will be held Tuesday evening from 6-8PM at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home and Wednesday 9:45-10:45AM at the Church. Interment will be in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 11. Services are under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com
