Thomas J Kirby

Thomas J. Kirby, born in June 1946 in Alamosa, Colorado, passed away August 21, 2025, at the age of 79, surrounded by his family in Gilbert, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Beverly Kirby of Grand Junction, Colorado, and his sister, Donna Rigby.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Cheryl (Williams) Kirby; his children, Kristie Troy (Ken), Lisa Heuer (Tim), Lindsey Germaine (Jason), and Thomas (TJ) Kirby, Jr. (Lauren); nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Lori Hefner.

Tom graduated from Casper Community College in Wyoming and transferred to Arizona State University, where he graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Painting. After serving in the Army National Guard, Tom launched Kirby and Associates, a local marketing and advertising agency in Tempe, Arizona, which he owned and operated for 35 years. An artist at heart, Tom had many creative outlets, from photography, to stone sand etching and rock tumbling, to building award-winning, perfectly to-scale WWII model airplanes. One of his favorite things was “helping” his children with their artistic school projects (the results of which a teacher would never have believed a child created) or crafting beautiful, speed-defying pinewood derby cars with his son.

Tom’s passions included serving as a veteran shooting coach and Junior Division Director for the non-profit Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association (ASRPA). A National Shooting Championship Gold Medal winner himself, Tom’s greatest pride was coaching his Junior teams to multiple national championships, with many team members earning scholarships and military academy appointments due to their marksmanship and scholastic achievements. As a Civilian Marksmanship Program instructor, he led M-1 Garand Clinics at the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in east Mesa. In 2008, well-known for his accomplishments in the sport, Tom was contacted by the U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and received a meritorious achievement award for coaching an expert marksmanship program for their soldiers.

Tom’s love for the outdoors led to countless adventurous camping trips with his family in their travel trailer throughout Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and the beaches of Mexico. He had a special interest in trains, a passion passed down from his great-grandfather, Heinie, an engineer on the Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railway. The infamy of Tom’s fail-proof, guaranteed golden-ladle-prize-winning chili recipe will live on forever with family and friends.

If you knew Tom, you know he was fun-loving and quirky. He loved to make people laugh, whether by talking to you in his perfected Donald Duck voice, convincing you to watch Young Frankenstein while wearing his “Abby Normal” t-shirt, or raising an aquarium of scorpions he caught in his backyard.

A family celebration of life will be held at a later date in Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization that provides care and support for those with Alzheimer’s and funds accelerated research.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.