Joyce R. Kirby

Joyce Poynter Kirby, 72 of Owensboro, went to be with the Lord on May 28, 2016 while in the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky. Mrs. Kirby was born June 15, 1943, and was the only child of E.W. "Jake" and Ethel Stone Poynter. She was a 1961 graduate of Owensboro High School. In 1965, Joyce graduated from Western State College (Western Kentucky University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics and taught economics for a few years in Indiana. For 17 years, she worked for the Daviess County Extension Office in 4-H through the University of Kentucky. She loved her career, and made a positive impact on the lives of many children during various after-school and summer programs and in 2005, Joyce retired. Mrs. Kirby was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in Owensboro, where she was a deacon and active member of Christian Women's Fellowship. In addition, she taught Sunday school, served as the children's librarian, and was involved with various other church-wide activities. Her interests included movies, dancing, eating out, shopping, board games, crafts, and spending time with her family. She relied on her faith and loved the Lord. Near the end of her life, she found great peace and comfort in having lived a life that would lead her home to her Lord and Savior. She is preceded in death by her mother, Ethel Stone Poynter on June 17, 1992 and her father, E.W. "Jake" Poynter on April 25, 2003.

Mrs. Kirby is survived by her husband John Kirby, whom she loved and was married to for nearly 50 years; three daughters, Lisa Kirby Holmes and her husband, Jessie of Smyrna, TN, Jennifer Kirby Grzegorek and her husband Brian of Newburgh, IN, and Kristi Kirby Warren of Newburgh, IN. She considered her daughters her greatest accomplishments in life, and let each one know she was her "favorite". Her three grandchildren include Cameron Grzegorek and Emily and Ryan Warren. She loved being a grandmother and spending time with her grandchildren.

Services will be 1:00 P.M., Thursday, June 2, 2016 at St. Stephen Cathedral with Fr. Jerry Riney officiating. Burial will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday with prayers at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 A.M.--12:30 P.M.. Thursday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Owensboro.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.glennfuneralhome.com