Obituary of Douglas Kirby

Kirby,Douglas Ernest passed away 09 Dec 07 in Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. Born in Halifax, 31 July 1925,he was the youngest son of the late Harold and Ethel (Shaw) Kirby, Kentville.He was predeceased by his younger sister, Alice (MacFarlane); infant son, Alan and grand-son, Michael. Doug is survived by his loving wife, Elaine (McCallum); brothers Clyde, Bellisle and Joseph, Ottawa; son, Stephen (Amelia), Kingston; daughters: Carol Spencer (Christopher), Waterville; Susan Ebsary (Robert), Ottawa and grand-sons: Patrick Brick (Tasha) Summerset; Alan and Andrew Ebsary, Ottawa; grand-daughter, Rebecca Ebsary, Ottawa and great grand-son, James Brick, Summerset. Doug joined the RCNVR in 1943 and finished the war serving on the HMCS St Boniface. After the war he managed Rockwell??s Hardware Store in Kentville. He was a proud member of the Kentville Fire Department, an active member of the Kentville Curling Club and a Charter Member of the Kentville Lions Club. He later joined the RCAF and had a very successful 27 year career as a Communications Technician. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1977 at CFB Summerside to be a gentleman farmer in Kinkora PEI. Always driven to improve his surroundings and those of his neighbors, Doug oversaw the revitalization of the village of Kinkora??s infrastructure by instigating and overseeing a major upgrading of the sewer system. His next project was as the general contractor for a new Village of Kinkora Fire Hall, Community / Seniors Centre and Library. He and friends Arnie McKiever and Clare Duffy pioneered ethanol production on PEI. Their research and development 30 years ago is having a direct influence on the PEI Government??s renewed interest in an ethanol production program. Doug and Elaine moved to Berwick in 1983 to be near their family and again developed close ties to the community. Doug was a member of the Berwick Lions Club for a number of years and sold real estate out of the office of Joan Balcom Realty. He may be best remembered as the guy who took your money at the Christ Church Dinners for many years .The family wishes to thank the following, but not exclusively, for the kindness and support they gave Doug during his heroic battle with cancer. Dr John MacEachern, Berwick; Dr Catherine McNally, Gail Gordon RN and Paulette Gash RN of Palliative Care; the Dr??s and Nurses of the Valley Regional Hospital; the VON/Health Services who assisted in caring for Doug on his long and difficult journey and Leslie Williams and staff of Veterans Affairs for their intuitive support. Cremation has taken place under the care of the Annapolis Valley Funeral Home, Coldbrook. A private family interment has been held at the Berwick Cemetery. Memorial service will be held in Doug??s memory at the Anglican Church of Canada, Christ Church, Berwick, at 11 a.m. 13 December, immediately followed by a reception in the Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Doug??s memory to the: Valley Hospice Foundation 23 Earnscliffe Ave., Wolfville, N.S. B4P 1X4 or to a charity of choice. On line condolences may be made through www.annapolisvalleyfuneralhome.com