Doris Virginia Kirk

Doris Kirk died June 19, 2010, at her home in Afton. She was born in Afton, Oklahoma, on January 21, 1922, to Wilton and Ethel (Williams) Cunningham. Doris graduated from Afton High School as Valedictorian of the Class of 1939. She obtained her B.S. Degree from Oklahoma College for Women located in Chickasha. Graduate work was from O.S.U. in Stillwater and N.S.C. at Tahlequah. She was the first business teacher at Afton Public Schools and taught there for 34 years. She also taught business classes at NEO A&M College and Afton Vo-Tech. On April 14, 1945, she married Lee Kirk, also of Afton. Lee and Doris spent their lives in the community of Afton. He preceded her in death on September 18, 2001. Mrs. Kirk was a member of the educational associations at the local, state, and national levels. She held offices in the local and county associations and received numerous honors in the educational field. Doris had several articles published in the business education magazines and was selected four times for recognition as an outstanding educator in America. She always referred to her former students as “her kids.” She loved them all and often said she hoped she contributed in some small way toward helping them. On July 26, 1931, Doris accepted Christ as her Savior and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Afton. After college, she returned to Afton and began teaching the young adult married classes. She taught this class for many years. Later she became a member of the Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Afton. She loved her Lord and her church family. The Dorcas Class was very special to her. Survivors include her two children, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one nephew: a son, Joe Kirk, and his wife, Marsha, of Joplin; a daughter, Mary Williams, and her husband, Darrel, of Miami; two granddaughters, Jennifer Sosik and husband Jimmie of Renton, WA, and Christa Kirk and Scott Righter of Joplin and their two daughters, Brooke and Karah Righter; two grandsons, Kirk Williams and wife Jamie of Miami and their son, Brett Williams; and Craig Williams and wife Emily of Joplin and their son, Caleb Williams; nephew Jim Dry and his wife Marylyn of Claremore, OK, and their daughters Jamie Vasquez and her husband Larry of Houston, TX, Dana Machen and her husband Don of Houston, TX, and their son Mike Dry and his wife Carol of Owasso, OK, and their children Eric and Anna Vasquez, Gus and Blake Machen, and Jerica, Brianna, Morgan, and Alex Dry. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two sisters, Betty Jane Cunningham and Ione Dry and her husband and Harold. The body will be cremated, and a private family memorial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Northeastern Baptist Association’s “Forward in Faith” campaign at 1428 West 63rd Street. Grove, Oklahoma 74344. designated for improvements to the Grand Lake Baptist Assembly Campgrounds. Further information may be obtained by contacting Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home in Miami.

Doris Virginia Kirk

January 21, 1922 - June 19, 2010