Obituary for Dolores Vivian Kirkley (Haight)
DOLORES VIVIAN KIRKLEY 1929-2019
Dolores Vivian Kirkley passed away peacefully and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2019, just one month after celebrating her 90th birthday. Dolores was born in Oklahoma City on July 20, 1929, to Cleo and Kozie Haight. As a young girl, she thrived in school and cultivated a love for all types of subjects, including science, art, and choir. From an early age, it was clear to everyone that she was loyal and caring and kind and compassionate, qualities that continued to develop and strengthen through her teenage years. Six years after graduating from Capitol Hill High School in 1947, Dolores married Charlie Kirkley on October 9, 1953. The two were married for 53 years, until Charlie’s death in 2007, and they had two children, Karen and Steve. Several years after marrying, Dolores pursued her dreams of becoming a nurse and ultimately took a job as an LPN at Southwest Medical Center, working nights so she could be home with her family during the day. Dolores was a nurse for over 30 years, and all who knew her would agree that the very best parts of her were reflected in the way she selflessly took care of others. As a mother, Dolores was loving, nurturing, selfless, and proud. As a grandmother, she was unconditionally supportive, steadfast, and sacrificial. To everyone she knew, she was a safe place to land when the turbulence of life became overwhelming. She would listen and love without judgment and offered support however she could. She was passionate about many things, like gardening and cats and reading and church. She loved to sing and tell stories, and she could carry on a conversation with anyone.
She loved hugs and crossword puzzles and watching old movies. She painted china. She was graceful, smart,
kind, and good. She genuinely saw the best in everyone, because that’s all she would ever look for. She will be
greatly missed by all who knew her, but her legacy will live on through those she loved so well.
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, Cleo and Kozie Haight, her husband, Charlie, her brother, Quinton
Haight, and her sister, Cleopal Hilburn. She is survived by her son, Steve Kirkley, and his wife, Melanie, of
Oklahoma City, and by her daughter, Karen Kindron, and her husband, Tom, of St. Augustine, Florida, along with
nine grandchildren, Michelle (and husband, Alphons), Kathryn (and husband, Brian), Adam, Jeremy, Megan, Tyler,
Aidan, Todd, and Matt (and wife, Kristie), and five great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Flynn, Gloria, Elizabeth, and
Molly.
A celebration of Dolores’s life will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00am at Oakcrest Church of Christ
in Oklahoma City. Family will receive friends from 10:30-11:00am. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Oakcrest Church of Christ, 1111 SW 89th St., Oklahoma City, OK, 73139, in memory
of Dolores Kirkley.
Dolores Vivian Kirkley passed away peacefully and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2019, just one month after celebrating her 90th birthday. Dolores was born in Oklahoma City on July 20, 1929, to Cleo and Kozie Haight. As a young girl, she thrived in school and cultivated a love for all types of subjects, including science, art, and choir. From an early age, it was clear to everyone that she was loyal and caring and kind and compassionate, qualities that continued to develop and strengthen through her teenage years. Six years after graduating from Capitol Hill High School in 1947, Dolores married Charlie Kirkley on October 9, 1953. The two were married for 53 years, until Charlie’s death in 2007, and they had two children, Karen and Steve. Several years after marrying, Dolores pursued her dreams of becoming a nurse and ultimately took a job as an LPN at Southwest Medical Center, working nights so she could be home with her family during the day. Dolores was a nurse for over 30 years, and all who knew her would agree that the very best parts of her were reflected in the way she selflessly took care of others. As a mother, Dolores was loving, nurturing, selfless, and proud. As a grandmother, she was unconditionally supportive, steadfast, and sacrificial. To everyone she knew, she was a safe place to land when the turbulence of life became overwhelming. She would listen and love without judgment and offered support however she could. She was passionate about many things, like gardening and cats and reading and church. She loved to sing and tell stories, and she could carry on a conversation with anyone.
She loved hugs and crossword puzzles and watching old movies. She painted china. She was graceful, smart,
kind, and good. She genuinely saw the best in everyone, because that’s all she would ever look for. She will be
greatly missed by all who knew her, but her legacy will live on through those she loved so well.
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents, Cleo and Kozie Haight, her husband, Charlie, her brother, Quinton
Haight, and her sister, Cleopal Hilburn. She is survived by her son, Steve Kirkley, and his wife, Melanie, of
Oklahoma City, and by her daughter, Karen Kindron, and her husband, Tom, of St. Augustine, Florida, along with
nine grandchildren, Michelle (and husband, Alphons), Kathryn (and husband, Brian), Adam, Jeremy, Megan, Tyler,
Aidan, Todd, and Matt (and wife, Kristie), and five great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Flynn, Gloria, Elizabeth, and
Molly.
A celebration of Dolores’s life will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00am at Oakcrest Church of Christ
in Oklahoma City. Family will receive friends from 10:30-11:00am. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Oakcrest Church of Christ, 1111 SW 89th St., Oklahoma City, OK, 73139, in memory
of Dolores Kirkley.