Edith Kirk

Edith Margaret (Williams) Kirk, died on Feb. 22, 2011. Her birth place was Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was the middle child of Frank and Nona Williams. She had four siblings and had outlived her immediate family by many years. Floyd Kirk Sr. and Edith were married in September of 1925. They soon moved to California and then Arizona. The couple moved to Chico in 1994, where they remained the rest of their lives. Floyd Sr. passed on December 19, 1991, after 66 active, fun-filled, work-filled years of marriage. Surviving Edith are Floyd Kirk Jr. and his wife, Helen of Paradise; Nona Kirk of Chico; Gina Kirk of Sacramento; her great-grandchild and Nona's adopted daughter; and granddaughters, Chris Stephens of Brinnon, WA, and Kathy Abken of Veneta, Oregon. "Grandma Edie" delighted in the fact that she had a total of 17 grand, great, and great great grandchildren. Edith loved art, colors, of which she said, "some are so beautiful I could eat them", horses, travel, good food, parties, and card games at home. She absolutely delighted in her carefully selected circle of friends. Her longest term living friend is Nadine Miskella Clifford of Chico. As she approached her declining years, the following close friends circled around her with visits, favors, letters and stories of their adventures and trials. They were: Helen White, Shirley Smith, Carolyn Riggs, Dolly Felix, Janet August, Marie Hart, Hannie Voyle, Michelle Diamond, and hair stylist, Sherry Heald. Several more friends from the Bay Area made certain to gather around her on holiday visits. We were all assured by Edith that she was receiving the utmost of love and TLC by the management and care givers at Country Commons Assisted Living of Chico. All around her witnessed how comfortable she was made during her four years at the facility. Their true respect and appreciation of Edith was ever present. Her community physicians, Marcia Moore, Sally Vertolli, FNP., and Chico Dental Arts staff and dentists grew to care beyond professional capacities, and always joined in appreciation of her courage, preferences, smile and quirky humor. She very much revered memories of her Indian Heritage and her Cherokee grandmother, who called her Chinquapin (a small brown nut). Her art mentor and teacher, the great local artist, Helen Hanna, were dear to her and held in high esteem. Mary Ginte Kabrin, of Reno, was Edith's friend and accountant, and kept in close contact through the years. All who knew Edith learned that, though of simple birth and little formal education, she was a very, very unique human being and wonderful mother. All were touched with wonder at her longevity; her smile; her courage; her quirks; her humor; and her abiding fascinations. Edith requested that there not be services. She will be interred with Floyd Sr. at the Glen Oaks Memorial Park. A picnic celebration will take place in the Spring with her family and close friends. Donations can be made to the Butte Home Health and Hospice, c/o Brusie Funeral Home. Non tax-deductable gifts may be made to Dolly Felix, sufferer of ALS at 1528 Palm Ave., Richmond, CA 94805.