John Miron "Jay" Kirbo

John "Jay" Miron Kirbo, 65, of Magazine, Arkansas, passed from this life on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. He was born May 23, 1959, in Ozark, Arkansas to Jack and Janet Kirbo.
Jay loved everything about his home and his hometown. He was a proud Magazine Rattler, excelling in each sport he participated in. He especially loved playing for his high school baseball team, where his curveball and impressive fielding skills helped lead his team to the state playoffs in 1977. He enjoyed all things Razorback and could call the hogs with the best of them!
Jay began working at age 10, delivering the Grit newspaper. He would continue to be motivated to earn his own money by working many and varied jobs throughout his life, such as hauling hay, catching chickens, doing railroad construction, bowling alley construction, natural gas exploration, butchering, house painting, carpet installing, and landscaping, and so many more that the count was lost by those trying to remember. Of all his occupations throughout his life, the most rewarding was the one he was enjoying until the end of his life, that being a full-time caregiver to his mother. He continued to grow a large and productive garden just as she had always grown. He added to this quality time with his mother by canning and preserving the bounty that he grew. He took great pride in continuing his mother's tradition of raising a garden, and he especially loved to share his beautiful and delicious bounty with friends and family. Jay had a deep circle of lifelong friends that endured the tests of time and distance. He never met a stranger, and his larger-than-life personality and witty charm made him the life of any party. He loved to tell a great joke, and his laughter was contagious. Over the years, friends would recall stories of Jay performing acrobatic feats for entertainment, most notably raising himself from a seated position to a handstand, after which he would walk on his hands for several minutes, even entering a hotel elevator that way while at a bowling tournament. Those who knew him could count on a big smile and warm hug if he saw you anywhere.
His happiest times revolved around hanging out with his sons, watching movies or playing horseshoes, or just talking about any and everything. When the mood would strike, Jay enjoyed playing harmonica and contributing to his brother's music compositions. But he was always especially happy and proud when listening to his sons play guitar.
He had a passion for foraging for and finding antiquities, especially vintage bottles. He would continue to enjoy exploring and collecting a plethora of items from arrowheads to old coins. He enjoyed spirited games of billiards and bowling and played each for both fun and trophies.
Jay would become a great lover of golf, and he enjoyed spending as much time on the golf course as time would allow. He was never known to sit still for very long, but he did manage to enjoy fishing, and he exercised the patience necessary to routinely bring home a stringer of fish.
Jay was always curious and interested in learning new things. He was the "McGuyver" in any situation that required it, always able to fix what was broken by inventing a new tool if necessary. He put practical knowledge to good use and found simple solutions to problems that others would only make more complicated by overthinking.
A lifelong lover of animals, Jay would rescue numerous stray and wounded animals over the years, many of which became beloved family pets.
We will celebrate Jay's life by remembering the good times and how his passion for living propelled him along the way. Thank you to everyone expressing your condolences and love.
He is preceded in death by his father, Jack Kirbo and brother, James "Jimmy" Kirbo.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Magazine Methodist Church, under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Sunday at Roberts Funeral Home.
Jay is survived by his sons, Jeremy Kirbo (Amber) of Van Buren, Arkansas, Jon Kirbo of Magazine, and Jack Kirbo of Magazine; mother, Janet Kirbo of Magazine; brother, Jackie Kirbo (Ellen) of Ozark, Arkansas; sister, Jennifer Kirbo Miles (Michael) of Cumming, Georgia; and other relatives and friends.
www.robertsfh.com
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