Gerald Lee Kirkby, 59
Gerald "Lee" Kirkby passed away Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in Hope, Idaho, at the age of 59.
Lee was born July 4, 1964, in Maywood, Calif., to Jerry and Doris Kirkby; he had two sisters older sister Debra and younger sister Kelly.
Lee graduated from Creswell High School. He was voted by his peers president of Leadership Club. He earned many awards in track and football and Attended Junior National Leadership in Washington, D.C.
Lee met Kimberley Thompson in high school and had his three children, Joshua, Delisha and Justin. He filled his children’s childhood with camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, being in the woods and lots of lake and river adventures. Shortly after high school and began building cabinets and furniture at Lanz Cabinets before going on to build log homes and finishing woodwork. Lee became a craftsman in finishwork for Westport Yachts while living in Washington. Lee won many awards for his woodwork in school and professionally in which he was very proud of.
He met his wife Phyllis in 1995 in Sandpoint, Idaho, and moved to Bend, Ore., where they married Feb. 14, 1997. The created a lovely home together, full of stories and adventures in Oregon and Washington before returning to Hope, Idaho.
Lee had many hobbies. He liked to hunt with his boys, go scouting for animals, search for sheds and tracks, anything to be in the woods. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to go escape and go camping at the end of a work week. The stories he could tell were never-ending and hilarious. He enjoyed building things and loved his tools. He was a cowboy. He loved country music and to dance. He was an Oregon Ducks fan and you almost never saw him without an Oregon Duck hat or shirt. He loved the Seattle Seahawks. He was a devout Hamms beer drinker. He loved his dogs, Scout, Knotcher, Ranger, Zip and Kenzie. Being born on the Fourth of July, he was very patriotic, he used to tell us it ran in his veins.
Lee loved and loved hard. He cherished the friendships in his life. His greatest joy in life was to spend time with his family. The adventures were just considered a bonus to the memories he was making with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends. There was nothing he wouldn’t do or sacrifice for his family. Lee showed everyone that working hard, being passionate, loyal and loving hard was all you needed in life.
Lee was preceded in death by his grandparents; his mother, Doris Lee (Brannan) Kirkby; stepdaughter Shana Glahe; mother of his children, Kimberly Thompson; her mother, Janet Thompson, and granddaughter, Sofia Kitts. He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Phyllis Kirkby; his father, Jerry Kirkby; his son, Joshua Kirkby (Melissa); daughter, Delisha Kitts (Brian); son, Justin Kirkby (Coleta); his stepson, Tyson Glahe (Sarah); stepdaughter, Nikki Shockley (Rob); daughter, Whitney Betz; his grandkids Ketin, Ashelyn, Kambry, Addison, Jerryn, Blake, Logan, Madison, Truxton, Ava, Chloe, Aiden, Brynin, and MJ; sisters, Debra Foote (Steven) and Kelly Crawford (Vince); and his nieces and nephews.
Lee was very passionate, hard-working, and loyal to a fault. He now lays down his cowboy hat, forever our cowboy, resting with the keeper of the stars.
Family and friends are invited to sign Lee’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.