Wylene Kirk

Mrs. Wylene C. Kirk, a retired teacher, passed away Wednesday afternoon, March 22, 2006 in Cleburne, Texas, at age 89. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2006 at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home Chapel, located at 512 N. Ridgeway Dr. Visitation will be immediately following the service. Graveside rites will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 27, 2006 at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas.
Mrs. Kirk moved from Lubbock to Cleburne five years ago in order to be near her daughter, Mrs. Bill V. (Glenda) Young. Mrs. Kirk taught 45 years, primarily first grade, in cities throughout Alabama and Texas. She was born in Thomasville, Alabama, in 1916 to Robert and Flossie Wilkerson Cassity, the oldest of 8 children. Upon graduating from Thomasville High School at 16, she attended Livingston State Teachers College, Alabama, for one year and began her teaching career at age 17 in a one-room schoolhouse near her hometown.
While in college, she met her future husband, Dwight L. Kirk, who graduated from LSTC and began a 48-year career in education as a teacher in Winfield. They were married in 1935 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mrs. Kirk continued to teach while completing her undergraduate studies during summer sessions at LSTC, and her husband was a principal in schools in Mobile County, including Dauphin Island, Mt. Vernon, Satsuma, and Theodore. They also continued their careers in education in Talladega and Holt, Alabama, while he completed his Master's degree at the University of Alabama.
Mrs. Kirk and her family moved to Austin, Texas, in 1952, where she taught first grade at Maplewood Elementary School, and her husband completed his Ed.D. degree at the University of Texas. The family moved to Corpus Christi and Odessa, Texas, where he was superintendent of schools (Ector County ISD) from 1956-69. Mrs. Kirk earned her Master's degree from Sul Ross College in Alpine, and taught first grade at Dowling Elementary in Odessa.
Dr. and Mrs. Kirk moved to Lubbock, where she culminated her teaching career at Hardwick Elementary with 45 years of experience. He was a professor in the graduate education department at Texas Tech University for 16 years, receiving Professor Emeritus status upon retirement. During a 2-year sabbatical from Tech, Dr. and Mrs. Kirk lived in Managua, Nicaragua, where he worked with the Nicaraguan State Education Department and she taught part-time in the International School for Elementary Students.
A long-time member of both Odessa First Baptist Church and Lubbock First Baptist Church, Mrs. Kirk was an active member of Alathean S.S. Class, and visited the Holy Land with members of her church. She also traveled extensively in Europe and Central America. Not only did she enjoy traveling, but she also was active in Lubbock Retired Teachers, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (50-year member), president of Zeta Omicron Chapter, historian of Lubbock Women's Club, T.E.A., Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and life member of P.T.A. She served on the Board of Directors of Odessa YWCA, as well as held membership in the Ector County Historical Society, where her Master's thesis was published.
Mrs. Kirk was a talented seamstress, modeling many of her clothes in fashion shows in Lubbock for Rachel's Fine Fabrics and modeled in Lubbock's Women's Club show, as well. She enjoyed china painting, oil painting, and needlework during her retirement years in Lubbock.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Glenda Young and husband, Bill, of Cleburne; a son, Dr. R. Wade Kirk and wife, Ellen, of San Angelo, Texas; a daughter, Ms. Joanna K. Heller of Baltimore, Maryland; six grandchildren, Phil Young and wife Renee of Cleburne, Greg Young and wife Nicole of Jacksonville, TX, Mark W. Kirk of San Francisco, Roger D. Hodge and wife Deborah of New York City, Jessica Hodge-Osgood and husband Dr. Greg Osgood, M.D. of Baltimore, and Jake Heller of Japan. Survivors also include seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Kirk is also survived by four sisters, Mrs. Louise Fendley and Mrs. Robbie Andrews of Fulton, Ala., Mrs. Mary Anna Milstead of Maylene, Ala., Mrs. Virginia McHaney of Saraland, Ala. and one brother, Alex Cassity of Thomasville, Ala.
Her husband, Dr. Dwight L. Kirk, preceded her in death in 1993, as well as two brothers, Guy T. Cassity and Arthur Cassity, both of Alabama.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to local Alzheimer's Association, Lubbock First Baptist Church library, or to a favorite charity.

Visitation

Sunday
Immediately following service

Service

Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel
512 North Ridgeway Dr.
Cleburne, TX 76033
Sunday March 26, 2006
4:00 p.m.
Map to Service Location

Interment

Resthaven Memorial Cemetery