Kirby Corinne Walker of Bentonville, daughter of Robert and Cathy Walker, was born Nov. 12, 1984 in Bentonville, Ark. She died Jan. 4, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. She was 28.
Kirby was a third grade teacher at Asbell Elementary in Fayetteville, Ark. She was a graduate of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, a 2002 graduate of Bentonville High School, and a two-time graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she held a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Educational Technology. She came from a family full of teachers, enjoyed the company of her peers and loved serving her community by serving its children. She enjoyed teaching greatly and will miss her school kids very much.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Oliver and Virginia Walker of Springdale and Claude Porter of Racine, Mo; Kirby is survived by her two beloved sons, Andrew (2) and William (1); her parents, Robert and Cathy Walker; and Edward Prim all of the home; one sister, Shasta and husband Jeremy Neisler; one brother, Tristan; one grandmother, Elizabeth Porter; and too many extended family members and friends (and friends who felt like family) to keep count of.
A funeral Mass will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers. A private gathering for friends, family, and the school families from St. Vincent de Paul, Fayetteville and Bentonville Public Schools will follow in the St. Vincent de Paul School Activity Center. In lieu of flowers, an Arvest Cares account has been set up at Arvest Bank on behalf of Kirby’s children.
Kirby was generous of spirit. She counted herself as an organ donor, and because of her generosity 60 strangers will be positively impacted for years to come. Kirby’s children will be sent bronze medals to honor their mother’s contribution. Even now, it seems, Kirby is still busy teaching.
Kirby’s family is collecting any stories or copies of pictures you may have from time spent with her in the hopes of gathering them into a book so her babies can know their mother was a kind, funny and wonderful human being who loved both of them very much. Please send these to The Walker Family, 903 NW A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712, or to rememberkirby@gmail.com
Finally, a word of thanks to everyone who honored Kirby’s remaining time with us with their faith, their prayers, and their well wishes. In honor of Kirby, we ask that you please do kind things for others. Be tolerant. Love all people from all backgrounds and walks of life without judgment. This, along with her children, is Kirby’s gift to the world.