Ryan Scott Kirby

One year ago on September 25, 2012, we lost our amazing son, Ryan Scott Kirby, 24, in a tragic motorcycle accident. Ryan was an experienced rider; he respected the motorcycle and the responsibility that came with riding. That day was nothing more than a tragic accident that has forever changed our lives.

Ryan was born March 14, 1988 in Orange, Calif. to James and Deborah Keller Kirby. The family lived in Costa Mesa until September 1993 when they moved to Thousand Oaks. The new school year was just starting and Ryan and his sister Megan had the great fortune to attend Ladera Elementary where many friendships were forged and continue to this day. Ryan graduated from Conejo Valley High School in 2005, a year early.

Ryan loved to make people laugh. He had a great sense of humor and was a master of funny faces. One of his Little League coaches, Scott Miller, recalled how everyone from both teams laughed and applauded after Ryan hit a home run and did a flip onto home plate. He loved working on his many cars, trucks and motorcycles. He was quite artistic and even painted

orange flames on his red primered '66 VW bug. He enjoyed golfing, hiking, rock climbing, and dirt bike riding in the desert with friends. Ryan started working at the age of 14 at Calamigos Ranch with his sister Megan. During high school, he also worked at P&L Burgers and Albertsons. He developed a great work ethic which carried into his adult life. He was meticulous in all that he did. At the time of his accident, he was employed by Dunn-Edwards Paints as the lead tint where he had been

since 2006. Ryan wanted to become a firefighter, so he enrolled in Fire Technology classes at Ventura College while continuing to work full-time at Dunn-Edwards. He was a member of the Thousand Oaks Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a proud cadet with the Los Angeles Fire Department's Crew 3 Wildland Post. Eleven days prior to his accident, Ryan finally got to fight his first fire at the Getty Museum. It was everything he thought it would be. He knew then that becoming a firefighter was what he wanted to do.

Ryan is survived by his parents James and Deborah Kirby; sisters Megan Kirby and fiancé Keith Rosebraugh of Agoura Hills, Carrie Ranard and husband Brett of Ladera Ranch, Jill Bailey and husband James of Fernley, Nev.; brothers James Kirby of Sparks, Nev. and Dylan Campbell of Santa Cruz; nieces and nephews Fallon and Harper Rosebraugh, Chad and Jennifer Ranard, Ryan and Kaitlyn Bailey, Devon and Harlequinn Campbell; paternal grandmother Evelyn Kirby of Westlake Village; aunts Lisa Dodge of Westlake Village and Pam Kirby of Thousand Oaks; and uncle David Keller of Syracuse,

N.Y. He also leaves behind his BFF Jessika Sopko, close friends Billy Macfarlane, Matt Sopko, and Joey Flowers; girlfriend Dani Best of Pasadena; and his dog Harley whom Ryan adopted from the Agoura Animal Shelter. Ryan was predeceased by his maternal grandmother Jean Bishton Keller of Herkimer, N.Y.; maternal grandfather Donald C. Keller of Geneva, Ohio; paternal grandfather James Nelson Campbell, Sr. of Warwick, R.I.; and paternal step-grandfather Jonathan Kirby of Thousand Oaks.

Funeral services were held Sunday, September 30, 2012 at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks in Westlake Village, officiated by Rev. Donald C. Anderson, cousin from R.I., followed by a celebration of life at University Center. We want to thank Greg Holly, A/O for LAFD Crew 3 for coordinating the support provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, and the Mountains Recreation Conservancy Authority. The show of support from more than 130 Fire Service personnel and the helicopter fly-over was nothing short of extraordinary. The fire department is truly a family whom takes care of their own. We are forever grateful for their support and for the continued friendship we receive from Greg Holly.

We want to thank our amazing Conejo Valley Unified School District family, the Dunn-Edwards Paints family, our wonderful friends, and Ryan's friends for everything they have done for our family during this difficult journey. No words can begin to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the love, support and kindness received from so many.

We also want to thank the first responders and the people who stopped to help Ryan on the day of his accident. It means so much to know he was surrounded by people who cared to help. We are so thankful that the driver of the car involved in the accident was not seriously hurt and we appreciate the sincere condolences received from her and her children.

Ryan was a very responsible, hard-working, focused young man. At his celebration of life, Ryan's friends honored his choice not to drink, do drugs, or smoke by having everyone toast Ryan with a glass of Dr. Pepper. They said, "When we would go to the desert to ride our dirt bikes, we had our coolers of beer and Ryan had his cooler of Dr. Pepper." Ryan was the one they would call at 3 in the morning for a safe ride home. At Ryan's service, Greg Holly recited the poem "What Will Matter." The last few lines read; "Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but

of choice. Choose to live a life that matters." We are so proud that Ryan did just that!

We want to thank those who made donations in Ryan's memory to the Los Angeles Fire

Department Foundation. Your incredible generosity is so very much appreciated by all. Please join us in remembering Ryan by visiting his Guest Book at www.piercebrothersvalleyoaks.com or by sharing your memories of Ryan at [email protected]. If you would like to make a donation

to the LAFD Foundation – Crew 3, your local fire department, the Agoura Animal Shelter, or an animal rescue group of your choice, we would be honored if you chose to do so in Ryan's name.

We love you and miss you Ryan and, when it is our time to come your way, we look forward to the day when you will greet us with a smile and say "Welcome Home." Oh what a reunion it will be!