James (Dick) Richard Kirkpatrick

Dick was born April 10, 1941 at the General Hospital in McNary Arizona, a thriving lumber community, where he joined his loving parents, Katharine and Leverett and older brother Gerald. In 1947 a third brother, John, was born and in 1950 Kevin completed the family. A 1952 move to Northern California for the family followed Dick's rural and unique childhood. Leaving behind the familiar Ponderosa pine forests, crossing the Nevada desert, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Kirkpatricks arrived in their new home town, Auburn California.

Dick's new school was E.V.Cain Middle School followed by Placer High. A proud Hillmen, Dick was involved in student government as student body president and was an enthusiastic member and captain of the football team. His outgoing personality and unique sense of humor won him many lifelong friends with whom he stayed in touch throughout his life.

Dick soon followed brother Gerald back to Arizona to ASU with hopes of becoming a coach, but he also realized his love of literature and learning. After graduating in 1962, he was hired by Tempe High School to teach English and coach football. His marriage to Ellie Simmons in 1964 produced two sons, Dolan and Scott, whom he adored.

He was a natural teacher and was soon hired by Mesa Community College to teach English-a career that lasted thirty-five years during which he developed the Southwest Literature program of study. As part of the program he organized and staged community events featuring talks with many famous authors of SW literature including Terry Tempest Williams, Charles Bowden, Ann Zwinger, and Edward Abbey with whom he traveled during the summer of 1985.

Throughout his life Dick had many passions: maintaining connections with family, friends, and colleagues, rafting, ASU sports, current events, and good literature.

Retiring with wife, Sherri Ziegler, to the tiny town of Oracle AZ in 2007 made a full circle back to a well loved rural setting. Oracle was claimed by author Abbey as his residence which made the move seem all the more fitting.

Dick is survived by his wife and companion of 40 years, Sherri, his sons, Dolan(Laura) and Scott(Lori), grandchildren Kaelyn Polick-Kirkpatrick and Jackson Kirkpatrick, brother Gerald(Tanya) and a multitude of Kirkpatrick cousins.

He often said "Don't feel sorry for me when I'm gone-I've had more fun than the rest of you all".

And he did!