In Memory Of
Mary Maxine Kirk
1924
2017
Mary Maxine Kirk
March 2, 1924 — January 28, 2017
Mary Maxine Kirk of Topeka, age 92, died peacefully on January 28th at her home of nine years at Lexington Park Skilled Nursing.
She was a kind soul who laughed easily and was much loved by so many of her caregivers and fellow residents. She was born in Topeka on March 2, 1924 and lived most of her life here, except for 10 years in Los Angeles from 1965 to 1975 and for a period of time following her marriage to Robert Kirk in 1943, when she lived in a boarding house near Camp Adair in Oregon while Robert received his infantry training prior to shipping off to the front lines in France during World War II.
Their son Steve was born while Robert was in a combat zone and didn't receive notice of his birth until the Red Cross informed him 10 days later. Over the next 4 years they had two more children, Sherri and Becky. Sherri became an invalid by age 3. Mary cared for her at home until Sherri was 9 by which time she and Robert were divorced. Sherri suffered literally hundreds of seizures, perhaps thousands, during that time, and Mary held her and then cried having witnessed her daughter suffer.
As a single mom in the 1950s, she sold real estate with the Ted Bower Agency and later the S.K. Stephens Co. in Topeka. In Los Angeles she worked for the County of Los Angeles Probation Dept. After moving back to Topeka, she worked for the State of Kansas Revenue Dept. until she retired in 1996. Wherever she worked, they always knew they could count on her to get the job done well and on time. She was a beautiful woman with a charming personality and always looked perfectly dressed when she left the house, even though she couldn't afford much of a wardrobe. Her kids always came first. Her budget didn't allow much for rent so her choices of locations were limited, but she picked apartments in the safest places she could. Mary was a breast cancer survivor and suffered through many health issues, yet she would get up at 5 in the morning and be outside at the bus stop by 6 am waiting for her bus to work, no matter how dark and cold. She was a real trooper.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents William S. and Alfie M. Cowger as well as her daughter Sherri. Also preceding her in death were her 5 brothers: Bob, Bill, Dwight, Dick and Gary Cowger.
She is survived by her son Steve Kirk (JoAnn) and her daughter Becky Smith (Dick), both of Topeka, and also by grandchildren: Troy Smith of Tempe, AZ, Traci McDonald of Topeka, Christa Kirk-Webber (Ron Webber) of Sarasota, FL, Josie Kirk-Pagel (Mike Pagel) of Topeka, and Liesel Kirk-Fink (Brad Fink) of Topeka. She had 14 great grandkids: Sailor, Nick, Chloe, Cavan, Coco, Cruz, Titan, Taylen, Teagan, Tinsley, Grayson, Payton, Clayton, and Kennison.
Job well done, Mary. You are loved. Now rest in peace.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Topeka, 3625 SW 29th St. Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66614. A private ceremony for the family will be held this week at Mount Hope's Abbey Chapel.
To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family online, please visit the guestbook below.
She was a kind soul who laughed easily and was much loved by so many of her caregivers and fellow residents. She was born in Topeka on March 2, 1924 and lived most of her life here, except for 10 years in Los Angeles from 1965 to 1975 and for a period of time following her marriage to Robert Kirk in 1943, when she lived in a boarding house near Camp Adair in Oregon while Robert received his infantry training prior to shipping off to the front lines in France during World War II.
Their son Steve was born while Robert was in a combat zone and didn't receive notice of his birth until the Red Cross informed him 10 days later. Over the next 4 years they had two more children, Sherri and Becky. Sherri became an invalid by age 3. Mary cared for her at home until Sherri was 9 by which time she and Robert were divorced. Sherri suffered literally hundreds of seizures, perhaps thousands, during that time, and Mary held her and then cried having witnessed her daughter suffer.
As a single mom in the 1950s, she sold real estate with the Ted Bower Agency and later the S.K. Stephens Co. in Topeka. In Los Angeles she worked for the County of Los Angeles Probation Dept. After moving back to Topeka, she worked for the State of Kansas Revenue Dept. until she retired in 1996. Wherever she worked, they always knew they could count on her to get the job done well and on time. She was a beautiful woman with a charming personality and always looked perfectly dressed when she left the house, even though she couldn't afford much of a wardrobe. Her kids always came first. Her budget didn't allow much for rent so her choices of locations were limited, but she picked apartments in the safest places she could. Mary was a breast cancer survivor and suffered through many health issues, yet she would get up at 5 in the morning and be outside at the bus stop by 6 am waiting for her bus to work, no matter how dark and cold. She was a real trooper.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents William S. and Alfie M. Cowger as well as her daughter Sherri. Also preceding her in death were her 5 brothers: Bob, Bill, Dwight, Dick and Gary Cowger.
She is survived by her son Steve Kirk (JoAnn) and her daughter Becky Smith (Dick), both of Topeka, and also by grandchildren: Troy Smith of Tempe, AZ, Traci McDonald of Topeka, Christa Kirk-Webber (Ron Webber) of Sarasota, FL, Josie Kirk-Pagel (Mike Pagel) of Topeka, and Liesel Kirk-Fink (Brad Fink) of Topeka. She had 14 great grandkids: Sailor, Nick, Chloe, Cavan, Coco, Cruz, Titan, Taylen, Teagan, Tinsley, Grayson, Payton, Clayton, and Kennison.
Job well done, Mary. You are loved. Now rest in peace.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Topeka, 3625 SW 29th St. Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66614. A private ceremony for the family will be held this week at Mount Hope's Abbey Chapel.
To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family online, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Maxine Kirk, please visit our flower store.
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