John B. Kirkley M.D.

John B. Kirkley M.D. of Jonesboro, Ark., passed away Feb. 17, 2017. He was born Sept. 10, 1921, in Neosho, Mo., to L.E. and Ethel Kirkley. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Esta Kirkley, and brother, Roy Kirkley. John graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical School in 1948. He served in the Navy at the end of WWII and the Army from 1954 to 1964. He received his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., in 1960. John practiced medicine in Imboden, Jonesboro and Memphis. He was the first OB-GYN specialist in Jonesboro. He retired from active practice in 2007, as Medical Director at the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, at the age of 86. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Jonesboro. John was a member of the American Medical Association, Lions Club and served on the board of the local Salvation Army. He was instrumental in forming the Blood Bank for the American Red Cross. He is survived by daughters, Mary Winn and husband Del of Atlanta, Ga., and Nancy Crumbaugh and husband Dick of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, Caroline Caudle, Colin Winn, Eric Crumbaugh and Sarah Crumbaugh; and three great-granddaughters, Madeleine and Norah Caudle and Olivia Crumbaugh. Services will be held in Little Rock at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Helping Neighbors Food Pantry, Helping Neighbors, Inter-Faith Food Pantry, P.O. Box 19182, Jonesboro, Ark. 72403. Online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.