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IN LOVING MEMORY OF James "Mike" Michael Kirtley
James "Mike"
Michael Kirtley
Mar 7, 1945 — Jan 24, 2015
Fairview
James "Mike" Michael Kirtley's Obituary
The Celebration of Life for James Michael "Mike" Kirtley, 69 of Chester, Oklahoma will be held at the Fairview United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015. The Rev. Rich Redinger will be officiating. Public viewing will be prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Orion Cemetery.
Michael, son of James and Maye Adele Beckham Kirtley, was born in Enid, Oklahoma, March 7, 1945. His mother described him as a perfect child and that perfection led him throughout life to become a successful athlete, seaman, business administrator, father and husband. Mike loved life to the fullest and truly fought the good fight, and kept the faith as he finished the race on January 24, 2015.
Mike received most of his elementary and secondary education in Hugo, Oklahoma. Before his senior year, his parents returned to Enid, Oklahoma, where he graduated with the Class of 1963. He excelled in all sports, football, basketball, tennis and track. The Enid News recognized him as a "flashy" halfback who was a needed "shot in the arm." He was awarded a football scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University, and pledged a fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha.
James Michael was married to Susan Underwood August 20, 1966, and to this union was born his beloved son, James Christopher Kirtley.
During high school and college, Mike was an apprentice mason under his uncle Les Beckham. In 1967 he enlisted in the Navy. After serving two years in Vietnam, he returned to OSU to complete his B.S. in Business Administration in 1971. He served in the Navy Reserves until 1972 when he was honorably discharged.
As a successful business administrator, Mike worked for Mistletoe Express Services in Oklahoma City in the years 1975-80 as a Manager of Branches. He then moved on to Jimco Advertising, Inc. during 1980-84. During 1985-90, he was League Operator for the Bud Light Pool League where he structured a franchise of 194 municipal pool teams in the OKC area. In 1990 he became Vice President of Operations for Beaver Express.
In 1997 Mike met Judy Dobbs, the love of his life. They were married on December 30, 1997 and made their home in the Orion community. Mike and Judy spent many wonderful vacations together enjoying boating on lakes in Oklahoma with friends and visiting their children and grandchildren in Colorado and eastern Oklahoma. Mike loved all sports but had a passion for OSU athletics and followed teams in person or on the "big screen" throughout his life. This passion was shared with his son Chris, his wife Judy, and friends. However, his favorite travel destination was their home in Kirtley's Canyon where he loved the role of hosting family and friends.
Mike had a knack for defining and establishing project needs and the motivational skills to build a productive team atmosphere. He was a progressive thinker and ground breaker with the flexibility, drive, and desire to invest time and energy toward strengthening his employers' position in the marketplace. He retired from Beaver Express in 2014.
Preceding him in death were his parents, one sister, Kathy Kirtley Landers and one brother Johnny Kirtley.
Mike is survived by his wife, Judy, his son Chris Kirtley and wife Laura of Castle Rock, Colorado; Brett Dobbs and wife Christa of Golden, Colorado; Brook Dobbs Wiersig and husband Josh of Poteau, Oklahoma. Other survivors include one sister, Rebekah Ambrosini and husband Jeffrey of Norman, Oklahoma; two brothers, Robert Kirtley and wife Gunilla, Falkenburg, Sweden; Richard Kirtley and wife Mary of Meno, Oklahoma, and one Brother-in-Law, Mickey Landers and wife Nina, of Monkey Island, Oklahoma. Grandchildren include Katherine and Olivia Kirtley, Braden and Casen Dobbs and Oliver and Nora Wiersig. He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to OSU Alumni Foundation or American Legion in care of Fairview Funeral Home Inc., 221 North Main Street, Fairview, OK 73737.
Michael, son of James and Maye Adele Beckham Kirtley, was born in Enid, Oklahoma, March 7, 1945. His mother described him as a perfect child and that perfection led him throughout life to become a successful athlete, seaman, business administrator, father and husband. Mike loved life to the fullest and truly fought the good fight, and kept the faith as he finished the race on January 24, 2015.
Mike received most of his elementary and secondary education in Hugo, Oklahoma. Before his senior year, his parents returned to Enid, Oklahoma, where he graduated with the Class of 1963. He excelled in all sports, football, basketball, tennis and track. The Enid News recognized him as a "flashy" halfback who was a needed "shot in the arm." He was awarded a football scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University, and pledged a fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha.
James Michael was married to Susan Underwood August 20, 1966, and to this union was born his beloved son, James Christopher Kirtley.
During high school and college, Mike was an apprentice mason under his uncle Les Beckham. In 1967 he enlisted in the Navy. After serving two years in Vietnam, he returned to OSU to complete his B.S. in Business Administration in 1971. He served in the Navy Reserves until 1972 when he was honorably discharged.
As a successful business administrator, Mike worked for Mistletoe Express Services in Oklahoma City in the years 1975-80 as a Manager of Branches. He then moved on to Jimco Advertising, Inc. during 1980-84. During 1985-90, he was League Operator for the Bud Light Pool League where he structured a franchise of 194 municipal pool teams in the OKC area. In 1990 he became Vice President of Operations for Beaver Express.
In 1997 Mike met Judy Dobbs, the love of his life. They were married on December 30, 1997 and made their home in the Orion community. Mike and Judy spent many wonderful vacations together enjoying boating on lakes in Oklahoma with friends and visiting their children and grandchildren in Colorado and eastern Oklahoma. Mike loved all sports but had a passion for OSU athletics and followed teams in person or on the "big screen" throughout his life. This passion was shared with his son Chris, his wife Judy, and friends. However, his favorite travel destination was their home in Kirtley's Canyon where he loved the role of hosting family and friends.
Mike had a knack for defining and establishing project needs and the motivational skills to build a productive team atmosphere. He was a progressive thinker and ground breaker with the flexibility, drive, and desire to invest time and energy toward strengthening his employers' position in the marketplace. He retired from Beaver Express in 2014.
Preceding him in death were his parents, one sister, Kathy Kirtley Landers and one brother Johnny Kirtley.
Mike is survived by his wife, Judy, his son Chris Kirtley and wife Laura of Castle Rock, Colorado; Brett Dobbs and wife Christa of Golden, Colorado; Brook Dobbs Wiersig and husband Josh of Poteau, Oklahoma. Other survivors include one sister, Rebekah Ambrosini and husband Jeffrey of Norman, Oklahoma; two brothers, Robert Kirtley and wife Gunilla, Falkenburg, Sweden; Richard Kirtley and wife Mary of Meno, Oklahoma, and one Brother-in-Law, Mickey Landers and wife Nina, of Monkey Island, Oklahoma. Grandchildren include Katherine and Olivia Kirtley, Braden and Casen Dobbs and Oliver and Nora Wiersig. He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to OSU Alumni Foundation or American Legion in care of Fairview Funeral Home Inc., 221 North Main Street, Fairview, OK 73737.
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