Michael Joseph Kirby Jr.

Heaven gained a new tenor and guitarist on Sunday, July 14, 2013, when Michael (Mike) J. Kirby peacefully left his earthly body while at home in St. Michaels after a courageous 4 ½ month battle against an aggressive form of melanoma. Mike was born in St. Charles, MO, May 20, 1948, to the late Michael and Violet Kirby. He grew up in Greenfield, IN, and from his early teens wanted to be a rock ‘n roll disc jockey. At Ball State University, Muncie, IN, he majored in Radio and Television and was instrumental in establishing the first campus radio station during his freshman year. While still in college, he began living his dream of becoming a DJ by doing the afternoon drive show on WHUT in Anderson, IN, for three years. Following his college graduation, he and a college friend formed Corbett-Kirby in Indianapolis, a company which produced radio jingles for businesses throughout the Midwest. Mike wrote many of the jingles, as well as doing many of the vocals. In 1979, the business disbanded, and Mike began a 20-year career with Marion Laboratories, Kansas City, retiring as Director of Visual Communications in 1998. Following his retirement, he worked for eight years as an independent consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, producing national sales meetings. Mike and his wife Marcia moved from Lenexa, KS, to St. Michaels in 2000 to enjoy sailing their boat Decoy. During the 13 years, Mike lived in Talbot County, he was a member of the Miles River Yacht Club and St. Michaels Breakfast Club, mentored two young men through Talbot Mentors, and was an active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, serving on many committees and actively participating in the music programs. Mike also had a home recording studio where he enjoyed recording his own music and that of others. His CD, Easy Street, which he produced in 1998, was done as a fundraiser for Talbot Mentors. Whatever Mike did, he did with an unbounded enthusiasm that was contagious. His quick wit and winning smile will be greatly missed by his many friends, but especially by his wife of 30 years, Marcia, his brother Alan (Mary) of Ojai, CA, his brother-in-law Gordon Powell (Janis) of Butler, PA, and many nieces and nephews. A special thank you for their loving care goes to Dr. Eglseder and staff and to Shore Home Health and Hospice. A Celebration of a life well-lived will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 100 Peachblossom Rd., Easton, MD, 21601. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s memory may be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, or Talbot Mentors, 108 Maryland Ave., Easton, MD, 21601. The cremains will rest in St. Mark’s Memorial Garden.

Michael Joseph Kirby Jr.

May 20, 1948 - July 14, 2013