Eleanor L. Kirby's Obituary
DECATUR- Eleanor Laurene Kirby, 90 of Decatur, passed away at 1:36 am Sunday, May 17, 2009, at St. Mary’s Hospital with her family at her side after a brief illness.
Graveside services to celebrate Eleanor’s life will be held at 2:30 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at the Mt. Gilead Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 pm Wednesday at the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Team 35 Project Linus Program in care of the funeral home. Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
Eleanor was born on April 5, 1919 in Maroa a daughter of Emmett and Ella (Miller) Leach. She was a homemaker and avid gardener and quilter. She was an integral part of Team 35 Project Linus; together they have made hundreds of quilts. She married Ed Kirby in February of 1942. He passed away after forty years of marriage in August of 1982.
Surviving are her children: Linda (Larry) Mayberry, Marilyn (Robert) McCoy, Bob (Laurie) Kirby, Larry (Phyllis) Kirby, Gary (Kathy) Kirby, Bill (Shirley) Kirby, Jim Kirby, and Marcia Kirby, sister: Rosalie Paceley of Phoenix, AZ., brother: Irvine “Bud” Leach of Decatur, fifteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren and her Team 35 Quilting Team.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson: Bradley Kirby, great grandchildren: Joseph, Michael and Tyler Peters, and Alaina Lynn Kirby and brothers: Leonard Leach, Arthur Leach and Harold Leach.
She was simply “Grandma” to many. Eleanor was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank Dr. Dan Smith and the ICU staff at St. Mary’s Hospital for their excellent care and support.
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