Patricia Ann “Pat” Kirk, 83, a transplanted Hoosier and Texan by choice passed away on July 12, 2016. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM, Monday, July 18, 2016 at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ Sanctuary, 1301 West Louisiana Ave. Midland, TX. Rev. Mike Hunter will be officiating.Pat was born on February 22, 1933 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Ralph and LaVon (Utley) Johnson. She attended schools in Fort Dodge, Hyde Park High School in Chicago and graduated from Lyons Township High School, LaGrange, Illinois in 1951.While a high school senior, Pat encountered Hank Kirk, a LTJC college student and part time school bus driver. Their romantic relationship bloomed sixty-five years ago resulting in her becoming the bus driver’s wife They moved to Bloomington, Indiana where Hank continued his education at Indiana University and Pat began her career as a new mother to Linda. It was there that Pat became an ardent sports booster – the Hoosiers, the Yankees and eventually the Broncos, her favorite teams.After Hank’s graduation they moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana where Pat’s career continued as mother and homemaker, raising their three children, Linda Kirk, Cynthia Robertson and Jeffrey Kirk. She was very involved in the children's school activities and fund-raising events.When the children were older, the family moved to Kokomo, Indiana where Pat was involved in the startup and operation of the family business, an agency for American Red Ball Moving and Storage Corp. She helped the company grow and acquire numerous national accounts and an excellent local reputation. The company was involved in many community events. One year they transported the Kokomo High School bands instruments and uniforms to New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.In 1982 the family relocated to Midland, TX. Pat was hired by the FDIC when it opened and worked for many years in the investigations department. She traveled to numerous assignments as needed, enjoyed the work immensely, and made many long lasting friendships.Pat next worked for Physicians and Surgeons Hospital as secretary to the Nurse in Charge. After leaving the P&S position, she was invited to join their Hospital Auxiliary, where she was elected to several officer ships and earned the nick-name “Madam.” Lastly her passion turned to playing bridge with the church group.There were not too many things Pat would get hung up on. One, though, was plain vanilla ice cream and the other was White Castle hamburgers. When going to Indiana from Texas she would count the miles till we hit the first WC in St. Louis. Pat was a great cook, she did not have any great specialty, everything was just plain good and wholesome. That’s a talent she acquired from her great-grandmother “Meme Butterball.”Pat was a great admirer of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, having visited several homes he designed and reading books on his life and accomplishments. She would be happy to know that a portion of her cremated remains are contained in a vessel bearing his name.Pat is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, William “Hank” Kirk of Midland. Their children are daughter, Linda Kirk of Midland, daughter Cynthia Robertson of Indianapolis, IN and son Jeff and wife Deanna Kirk of Westfield, IN, along with their children and eleven grandchildren. The family now extends to the third generation, making Pat a great-great grandmother, which she sure was!She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and LaVon Johnson, her beloved great grandmother, Mary “Meme Butterball” Smith and grandson, Aaron Jeffrey Kirk.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to First Christian Church, 1301 Louisiana Avenue, Midland, TX 79701.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,
