Roy “Jess” Kirk

April 19,1927 – January 14, 1994

Jess Kirk, 66, died at 7:50 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14,1994, at his home at 801 Delaware street.

A communion service has been planned for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mark’s Episcopal church. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian church. Rev. Bill Powell, pastor of St. Mark’s Episcopal, and Rev. Ken Waddell, pastor of First Presbyterian, will officiate. Brown Funeral home will be in charge of arrangements.

Kirk was the son of Roy and Stella Kirk and was born at Marland, April 19,1927. He was a 1944 graduate of Perry high school. Kirk was the first wrestling champion at 154 pounds in the Geary tournament and was an AAU national runner-up in that sport.

He attended Central State university where he lettered in wrestling in 1946. Kirk also attended the University of Oklahoma.

He and Ida Nell Oldham were married in Perry on Sept. 10, 1954.

Kirk served in the United States Army from 1945-46 and attained the rank of sergeant. He worked 25 years as an oil field roughneck, then owned a local business before becoming employed at Mid-Continent Permanent Steel in September, 1966.

He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal church and the Perry Elks lodge.

In addition to his wife, of the home, survivors include four sons, Lloyd Kirk, Mark Kirk and Mike Kirk, all of Edmond, and Floyd Kirk, Woodward; one daughter, Sandy Fredrickson, Ada; one sister, Sallie Waltermire, Perry; and 11 grandchildren, Alex Kirk, Adam Kirk, Sarah Kirk, Rachel Kirk, Jennifer Kirk, Ryan Kirk, Robin Kirk, Jason Minyen, Bobby Meiser, Billy Meiser and Bunny Meiser.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and five sisters.