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Posted By tatemortuary on January 23, 2011

Margene Barrus Kirk, wife of Don Lewis Kirk and daughter of Orlando Tolman Barrus and Mary-Cecil Adams Barrus, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving children on January 23, 2011.  She was 82 years old.  Margene was preceded in death by her husband, whom she married on March 17, 1950, later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was the last remaining member of the O.T. “Cot” Barrus family, which included Virginia, Dean, Mary-Cecil and Lajette, who died in infancy.  Margene’s early years in Tooele were joyful and nurturing. She admired the strength and courage of her parents, loved her brother and sisters, and grew to maturity with a talent for music, which she lovingly shared. She spoke fondly of her father singing at the top of his lungs, while frying bacon and eggs in the kitchen.  She was educated in Tooele and attended the University of Utah, where she formed life-long friendships. She joined the Delta Gamma sorority, which she loved and later expressed by singing “I’m a Delta Gamma” to her children, who understood little about the sorority, but sensed it was very special. She also attended BYU.  Margene’s love of music also drew her to her husband Don, who was an art student at the University of Utah, played in a dance band and “was a good dancer.”  In 1945, when Don went to serve his country in Germany, she wrote him often. When he returned, they married and lived in Salt Lake and later moved to Tooele.  Margene was a selflessly loving mother who served her Church and community with dedication and compassion.  She and Don supported O.T. Barrus as Stake President, helping him form a Stake Orchestra. They were two of the original members, called to serve the youth of Tooele. Margene was the lead vocalist and Don played trumpet, They served for 12 years. They later moved to Germany, where Don served the Government. During that time, Margene worked at V Corp Command Reference Center in Heidelberg and also enjoyed her calling in the Stake Mother Education program of the Relief Society. She often described her experience in Germany as a challenge that allowed her to grow spiritually closer to her family. They struggled together and that struggle became a bond that will cement them forever.  After returning to Tooele, Margene became a volunteer coordinator of Tooele County Health and Human Resources, where she enjoyed community service in public health, mental health, senior citizens, and family services. She soon became an advocate for neglected or abused children. In that capacity, she helped start the Guardian Ad-Litem Program, which became part of the Tooele justice system. Her service at the Senior Citizens Center brought her great joy as did her work at the Harris and East Elementary Schools, where she was employed for a total of 12 years.  The legacy of love, which she leaves behind, is now in the hearts of her family and friends. Her compassion remains an inspiration to us all. In the last years of her life, she was blind, but continued to rise from those dark places that consume others with despair. She engaged lovingly with those around her, showing deep concern for all but herself. In the course of her life, Margene experienced great loss, including the deaths of her beloved brother in WWII and her grandson Tanner, who is happy to be getting his grandma back. Tested by life, she always stood tall. As a member of the “greatest generation” who experienced not only sacrifice, but also loss, her love of God, family and country set a standard we can only hope to achieve.   She is survived by her children, Don Lewis Kirk, Jr. (Dominique) of Bonn, Germany; Kathy Allen (R. Thad) of South Jordan, UT, Debbie Kirk (David) of Orem, Utah, Kalleen Lund (Steven) of Provo, UT, Dean (Denise) of Surprize, Arizona; and grandchildren, Heather Allen Wall (Ben), Melanie Allen Jorgensen (Jared), Michael Kirk, Sarah Kirk Bench (Bryan), Chrissy Lund Blickenstaff (Jeremy), Eric Allen, Rebekah Kirk Murnan (Ryan), Esther Kirk, Tyler Allen, Ryan Lund, Ben Kirk (Rebekah), Alec Kirk, Jordan Kirk, Mason Kirk, Rachel Kirk Fairbourn (Zack), Kelsey Lund, Bethany Kirk, and her great-grandchildren Abby, Ailey, Annika Ava,, Avery, Baden, Bennet, Eliot, Gavin, Hunter, Jack, Jaxson, Liam, McGrath, Maya, Maren, Owen, and Reese.  Funeral services will be held at the Tooele 8th Ward Chapel, 196 N. Pinehurst Ave. Tooele, UT at 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 29. Viewings will be held at the Tate Mortuary, 110 So Main St. in Tooele on the same day from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment in the Tooele City Cemetery.

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