Texte intégral
Charles William (Chick) Kirkby, 78 Charles William (Chick) Kirkby, of RR3 Prescott, died June 24, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital. He was 78. Mr. Kirkby was born Sept. 6, 1925 in Prescott to Roy Seymour Kirkby and Mary Anna Hall. He married Erma "Bobbe" Kirkby (nee Poaps) July 22, 1950, at St. Mark's Rectory, Prescott. He joined the U.S. Army when he was 18 and served in occupied Japan. He enjoyed working on the river: on the CPR car ferry between Prescott and Ogdensburg for 11 years, on the seaway for a number of years and as a 23-year employee at the Canadian Coast Guard Base in Prescott. His passion was sports, especially hockey and baseball. He served as unofficial groundskeeper at the Prescott ball diamonds. He coached many baseball and softball teams in the area and was a very proficient player in his earlier days. Chick and his brother-in-law, Leo Boivin, were among the first inductees when the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame reopened in 1993. A final tribute was paid June 26 when his funeral procession proceeded past the Chick Kirkby Little League Ball Park named in his honour; members of the Prescott Pirates held honour guard by holding up baseball bats and hockey sticks to salute his life and contribution to local sports. His family and home on the river were very important to him. His newest adventures were playing stick hockey and baseball with his great-grandchildren and his garden pleasure. He is survived by his wife, his son Mark, daughter-in-law Laurie and son Dean, grandchildren Ryan, Justin, Josh, Nicole and Jennifer and great-grandchildren Tyson and Kennedy. He was predeceased by his parents, two daughters and one son, brothers Lorne, Ken, Art, Bern and Carl and sisters Jean, Marg and Patsy. Visitation took place June 25, 2004 at Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott. Mass of Christian Burial was held June 26 at 1 pm at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Prescott. Father J. Appelman officiated. Burial took place June 26 at St. Mark's Cemetery. Pallbearers were sons Mark and Dean Kirkby, grandsons Ryan, Justin and Josh Kirkby, nephew Paul Stethem and family friend Steve Tzaferis. Honourary pallbearers were Johnstown ladies softball coach Les McAllister and ball players Debbie Gray, Marilyn Rupert Scott, Shauna Ward and Pattie Robinson Boswall. Memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Grenville-Prescott Little League.