Lavonna Ruth Kirby

Lavonna Ruth Kirby, 92, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on December 2, 2025. She was born on Nov. 12, 1933 in Chickasha, OK. She graduated from W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas, TX in 1951. While attending Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, OK she met Dorsey Raymond Kirby who would soon become her life-long companion and husband. The family included son, Kent Douglas Kirby, and daughter, Linda Kay (Kirby) Alexander. After returning to college when her children were in school, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and was a first and second grade teacher for over 20 years in the Shawnee Mission School District. She was a beloved teacher at Merriam Elementary School her entire teaching career.

Besides teaching, she filled her time with family events, all sorts of craft hobbies and traveling. She and Dorsey loved to travel with their friends from Central Church of the Nazarene. She joined the church in 1955 shortly after her marriage to Dorsey and they attended the church their entire lives. We know Jesus was waiting for her on the 2nd to receive her into heaven. Preceding her in death was her husband, Dorsey R. Kirby and her son, Kent Douglas Kirby. She leaves behind, her daughter, Linda Alexander and husband Roger, and their three sons and families, and Debbie Kirby, her daughter-in-law and her two daughters and families. She will be missed greatly.