Mike Kirby

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

William Michael “Mike” Kirby, age 71, passed away Friday, February 26, 2021 due to complications from heart bypass surgery.

Mike was born July 31, 1949 in Baxter Springs. His parents were Clayton “Fudgie” White and Velma “Billie” (Kirby) Edwards. Mike spent his entire life in Baxter Springs before moving to Joplin in 2018.

Mike was a heavy equipment operator and Project Manager of environmental remediation projects for over 40 years. He traveled the United States working on a variety of projects, remediating contaminants from lead, asbestos, PCB’s and mercury. He also participated in the recovery of materials from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Mike had a variety of interests over the years. In his younger days he was something of a free spirit, participating in any number of quasi-legal activities. As he mellowed with age, he fine tuned his sense of sarcasm and lack of patience to a razors edge. He was widely considered an asshole by many, but we loved him regardless. His latest hobbies included couch surfing and terrorizing the grandchildren whenever possible.

Mike was united in marriage June 4, 1972 to Geneva (Vickers), she survives of the home.
Additional survivors include brothers Tom Edwards (Janis), Randy White (Pam) and a sister Linda Nelson (Dan). Children include Tammy Bearden (Lane), Michelle Schmidt (Frank), Bob Kirby (Lori), Willy Kirby (Kamisha), Steven Kirby (Charli), 10 grandchildren Joshua, John David, Bradley, Joseph, Hannah, Lindsay, Dylan, Gage, Emma Grace and Hunter, 10 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and cats.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Wesley White, a brother-in-law Dale Vickers, a daughter Mary Grace Kirby and a grandson Dustin Scott Patty.

Mike has been received in the care of Derfelt Funeral Home for cremation. The family has decided to not have services at this time. A private burial will be held at a later date at the Baxter Springs Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at wwwderfeltfuneralhomes.com.