James (Jim) Lee Kirby, 87, of Cave Creek, AZ passed away peacefully on January 10th, 2024, at the Carefree Manor Assisted Living Home with his wife Marlene at his side.
Jim was born in Globe, AZ on December 30th, 1936. He is survived by his wife Marlene and stepsons Douglas Orem (Aimee), Dan Orem (Heidi) and Dean Orem (Meghan) ten grandchildren; Dustin, Hannah, Kendall, Gabriel, Kaylee, Joshua, Connor, Evan, Kacey and Garrett, plus seven great-grandchildren; Charles, Savannah, Miles, Owen, Olivia, Keziah and Elliana, and his brother Robert Kirby (Arlene). Jim loved children—his family and the children he served lunch to at school.
Jim grew up in the copper mining town of Morenci, AZ. After graduating from Morenci High School, he attended Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, AZ. Then he attended and graduated from Grand Canyon College. He worked for a while in the mining industry before going to New Orleans Baptist Seminary for a Master of Divinity.
He was a pastor at Wolf Island Baptist Church in Missouri until he experienced a divorce then returned to Arizona where he took a job at The Boulders Resort. One of his passions was writing and reading poetry. Jim participated in the Talent Show sponsored by The Boulders presenting his own original poems. He also read his works in Las Vegas at a poetry convention as well as locally at Harold’s and Cave Creek Coffee Company.
Upon returning to Arizona Jim met Marlene and they married on October 16th, 1986. He was a faithful, good man as they were married for 37 years. Together they joined The Sonrise Bible Church, loving the Word of God and the church family.
Another one of Jim’s passions that he and Marlene enjoyed together was prospecting. Initially members of the Roadrunner Prospectors’ Club, then The Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association, they enjoyed the beauty of the Arizona outdoors.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Markett. A memorial service will be held at Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary on Friday January 19th at 10:30 AM with visitation starting at 9:00 AM before the service.
