James Kirby

James Thomas Kirby, 85, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at home in Gulfport, MS surrounded by his family.
JT, as he was affectionately known, was the son of the late John H. Kirby and Lou Ethel McDonald Kirby. Born on November 18, 1931, he graduated from Gulfport High School in 1950 where he was a letterman on both the baseball and football teams. Following graduation from high school, JT served his country honorably for 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Tech Sergeant. He then worked 15 years at the NASA space program as part of the main propulsion test team building the space shuttle booster engines. Following his work at NASA, JT worked with the University of Texas as a research scientist on the USNS Lynch and USNS Bartlett, which involved several research driven trips to the North Sea as well as travels to countries all over the world.
JT was preceded in death by his wife, Doylene Dambrino Kirby; parents, John and Lou Ethel Kirby; brother, Donald Kirby; and three sisters, Eunice Kirby Hedges, Hattie Kirby Hubbard and Mae Kirby Strazala.
He is survived by his children, Sharon Kirby, Heidi Wilkinson and Todd Kirby, all of Gulfport; brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ernest R. Kirby; brother-in-law, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Walter Hedges; grandchildren, Natalie Wilkinson of Gulfport and Dr. James Wilkinson of Jackson, MS; great-grandchild Aiden James Wilson; and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Kelly Neal, RN of Amedisys Home Health Care and Susan Spahn, RN of Southern Care Hospice for taking special care of our father.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 4, 2017 where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Handsboro United Methodist Church of Gulfport. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport served the family and the online guestbook may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.