Loretta Joyce (Burkhart) Kirk
Apr 24, 1939 - Jun 26,2020
Posted by Martha Reddout

©Marietta Monitor
3/ Jul 2020 Page 4

Interment followed in the Lakeview Cemetery.

The family encouraged attendees to wear red in Joyce’s memory.

Born April 24, 1939 in Marietta, the daughter of Riley Wheatly and Lillie Marie Freeman Burkhart, she died Friday, June 26, 2020 at Mercy Health Love County, Marietta. Joyce grew up in Thackerville graduating with the Class of 1957. On January 4, 1958 she married her high school sweetheart, Jesse Kirk. Jesse always stated he married “the prettiest girl on the school bus” because his parents had borrowed his car that day. The two grew into a family of four with the birth of their daughter Teresa and their son Chris. Jesse preceded her in death on July 23, 2019. In 1964, Joyce ventured to Irving, Texas where she took pride in caring for her family as a homemaker. In 1972, they moved their family back to Thackerville where she enjoyed living back in her hometown spending time with family, especially her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Joyce was a proud member of First Baptist Church Marietta and served as RSVP on several committees. Joyce’s entire life has been one serving God and others. She never met a stranger and if there was an opportunity to help a family in need or to serve a family who may have lost a loved one, she was always willing to help and minister to those families. Filling others’ stomachs with food was her way of showing her love. Joyce’s heart was bigger than she was.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Riley Burkhart, Ira Burkhart, and Harvey Burkhart; grandson, Riley Trey Kirk; nephew, Greg Kirk; niece, Denise Hollar; brother-in-law, Homer Kirk; and sister-in-law, Peggy Burkhart.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-love, Teresa and Darrell Brundige of Coppell, Texas; son and daughter-in-love, Chris and Kathy Kirk of Marietta; sisters-in-law, Betty Jo Jones Burkhart of Thackerville, Sharon Spain Burkhart of Tennessee, and Annie Kirk of Arlington, Texas; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, LaDaria and Bill Riggs; five grandchildren, Leia Spoor and husband Jason, Charles Owen and wife April, Kyle Kirk and wife Lacie, Colt Riley and wife Kaci, and Shiann Kirk and husband Steven; and nine great-grandchildren, Shelby and Landry Spoor, Riley and Audrey Owen, Gavin and Everly Kirk, Luke and Joy Riley, and one on the way!

Serving as pallbearers were Wes Burkhart, Shane Burkhart, Brian Burkhart, Jason Spoor, Charles Owen, and Steven Feiertag. Honorary bearers were the First Baptist Church Funeral Committee.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Youth Ministry and Funeral Ministry. “Our family would like to express our deepest appreciation and love for the staff at Mercy Health Love County.”

Online guest book: wattsfuneralhome.com Flanagan-Watts

A photo of Mrs. Kirk was included with her obituary.