Kirby Deeter

1942 - 2021

Kirby Deeter
February 6, 1942 - December 5, 2021
Leawood, Kansas - Kirby Vail Deeter, 79, of Leawood, Kansas passed away on December 5th, 2021, after an unexpected illness. Kirby was born in Topeka, KS to Helen and Vail Deeter, where he grew up with two older siblings, Dr. Kelly Deeter, DDS (Margie), Topeka, Kansas and the late Karen Deeter, New York. He graduated from Topeka High School where he was class president, and University of Kansas where he majored in business and was a member and eventual president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the source of many lifelong friends. He enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve where he trained and served as a flight navigator. Upon graduation he went to work for Fleming Food Company's Real Estate division in Kansas City. Kirby eventually left Fleming Food rather than accepting a job relocation in San Francisco and joined the commercial real estate firm which became Varnum/Armstrong/Deeter where he was a partner until his death. Prior to this transition, Kirby dated and eventually married fellow Jayhawk, Marcia Hudson in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kirby and Marcia's family grew with the birth of Kristin Deeter Steel (John), Dollar, Scotland and Dr. Hudson Deeter (Dori), Nashville, Tennessee, and their children Taylor and Julia Steel, and Wyatt and Sage Deeter. Marcia passed away suddenly in 2009 from an accident.
Kirby's full life contained many friendships and activities which illustrate his ability to get along with people, bring people together and establish long term relationships. He was a member of the Overland Park Rotary and a Paul Harris fellow. Along with being a long-time member in several organizations, he held several leadership roles within them including Board President of the American Cancer Society of Johnson County, the 1982 President of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Board of the JCCC Foundation, the 1976 President of the Johnson County Board of Realtors, the 1974 President of the Commercial Investment Division of Johnson County Board of Realtors. He was nominated the 1987 Realtor of the Year for the State of Kansas and was recipient of the 1994 Distinguished Service Award by the Kansas Association of Realtors. He was honored with the 1999 Phi of the Year Award by the Kansas City Alumni Chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Unequivocally, everyone liked Kirby. Colleagues and tenants who have worked with and leased space through Kirby continue to ask about him long after he was able to be active in the business. Kirby's success was attributed to many things, but it was his love for what he did that tied it all together.
After several years of dating, Kirby married Cheryl Buckles of Kansas City in 2015, and they enjoyed companionship and travels to Colorado for several years. Kirby suffered a fall on ice in 2016. This event was the catalyst for worsening dementia which further progressed and necessitated his move to an assisted living facility where he lived until his death. The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for visits with friends and loved ones. He was a favorite to many staff at Brighton Gardens where he remained positive and friendly until his unexpected passing.
Kirby was an avid lover of nature and wildlife and always felt lucky to have found a family home on a small lake in Leawood where he and his family could enjoy its inherent serenity, as well as swimming, fishing and bird watching. This love of the outdoors, as well as love of being together with family, was also the inspiration to expand his dwellings to Estes Park, Colorado where he and the family frequented often and where he was passionate about fly-fishing, loved hiking and relaxing with family and friends.
Coming from a musical family, music remained a big part of Kirby's life, and while he played both trumpet and piano, he is mostly remembered by many for playing guitar and singing at gatherings. Kirby was also a natural athlete and despite a significant back injury playing football, he remained quite active and loved being involved in his children's sports. He was known for years to come as Coach Deeter for the many years spent as coach of his son's soccer team. He was an avid tennis player most his adult life until suffering a skiing accident and re-injuring his back.
Though Kirby always stayed busy being dedicated to work and organizations, he was most committed and dedicated to his family. There was not an event or game that he missed regarding his children and would drop everything to be there as a dad or husband. As a father and grandfather, he was an ideal role model, and he made life fun. He disciplined with instruction not punishment and he stressed to always put oneself in the other's shoes for perspective. Mostly though, he always showed his love, was always approachable for sound advice and was over the top supportive.
Kirby Deeter; a leader, hard worker, genuinely caring and compassionate, a dedicated family man and a true gentleman. We will all miss you.
A service to celebrate his life will take place at a date to be announced later in 2022. in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Alzheimer's Association- Heart of America Chapter, 3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208.