Kent R. Kirk 78, of Beaumont, passed away suddenly on Monday, September 9, 2013. He was born in Waelder, Texas, on December 3, 1934, to Adell and Ray Kirk. Kent graduated from Beeville High School in 1954. He moved to Beaumont in 1954 to attend Lamar University where he met and married Meredith Lavinia Jackson. They married on June 15, 1956. Kent went to work for Gulf States in 1957 and retired in 1990 after a service of thirty-three years. After retirement, Kent started Kirk's Tractor Service, Inc., a trucking and construction business. Together with his wife, sons, and later his grandson, the business grew from a dump truck business to a trucking company that specializes in heavy hauling.
Kent is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Meredith Kirk; sons, Bertray Kirk and his wife, Linda; Charles Kirk and Cyinta Wilcox; and Richard Dale Kirk and his wife, Pam; grandchildren, Brian Kirk and his wife, Heather; Travis Kirk; and Kathryn Kirk; great-grandchildren; Cameron Burgess and Cera Kirk; sisters, Myra Hale and her husband, James Robert; and Shirley Coover and her husband, Keith; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Adell Kirk; and his brother, Billy Kirk.
A gathering of Mr. Kirk’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 13, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 2013, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 175, Houston, Texas 77057.
