Samuel Jackson Kirk Jr.

.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at Collier-Butler Funeral Home for S.J. “Jack” Kirk, Jr.82, Gadsden, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Pastor Mark Puckett and Chaplain Shawn Sims will officiate.

Jack was born on July 8, 1929, in Centre, Alabama but spent most of his life in Gadsden. He was a member of East Gadsden United Methodist Church. He was the Market Manager for Bruno’s for 21 years. Upon his retirement he became a member of the Coosa Valley Model Train Club and spent countless hours building model train layouts including the Downtown Gadsden Train at the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. He was preceded in death by his parents, S.J. Kirk, Sr. and Mary C. Kirk and sister-in-law, Lucille Cannon.

Remaining behind to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 61 years, Betty Kirk; children, Sam (Rebecca) Kirk, Mary Kirk Atkins; grandchildren, Jon (Melissa) Kirk, Stephen (Vicki) Kirk, Paige Langdale (Shane Brown); great-grandchildren who were his joy, Baylor Langdale, Katie and Mollie Kirk, Sellers Kirk, Cameron and Connor Brown; sister-in-law, Pat (Earl) Smith and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be family and friends. Honorary pallbearer will be Don Martin.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to East Gadsden United Methodist Church, 201 South 8th St. Gadsden, AL 35901 in honor of Jack.

A special thanks to Southern Care Hospice, especially Stacy, Jennifer, Dennis, Dorothy, Shawn, and Leigh and to the many friends and extended family who have shown such love and compassion for our family during this time.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.