Carl Vernon Kirkham

Carl Vernon Kirkham was born on February 24, 1929 in Dolen, TX to Linder and Iva Kirkham. He started school at Dolen and graduated high school from Cleveland, TX.

His two older brothers went to serve in the military and he stayed home to take care of the family. He said it was always good to take them to the train station in Romayor so he could have a little relief from his brothers, but he was so proud to see them return home safely each time.

Work after high school began at Kirkham feed store with his father and his partner Billie Kirkham. They would drive an old Army truck to Houston to get the feed for the store. On a few occasions, his younger cousins Tookie and Jimmy would tag along. After working all day, Carl would look over and see his younger cousins running and jumping all over the feed and haybales that they just stacked. When Mrs. Thomas offered to buy the store, Carl said he had loaded and unloaded his last sack of feed.

After selling, he moved to Houston to start a new career in the oilfield. He worked offshore around the world but his favorite memories were in Trinidad. Nothing tops that Rum!

He retired to take care of his mother, Momma, as he affectionately called her. He stayed in good health from all the gardening orchestrated by Ms. Iva. They produced enough food for all to enjoy. His brothers were very special to him too. He and Will would enjoy afternoon coffee with friends and neighbors. It was always a special treat when their brother Wayne would come from Canada.

Carl always loved spending time with his nephews too. He loved helping Kenneth and David with the family, and summer visits from Rod and his family. They all have many fond memories working on the ranch, shelling peas, tripping on fresh paint and snacking on prunes.

Carl was cherished by the whole community and on any given day you were certain to run into him at one of his favorite Cleveland restaurants; Ranch Hand, Santos, Pueblo…. The ladies at the Ranch Hand took extra special care of our Carl and would bring him lunch while he was in the nursing home with his broken hip, just because he was so special.

He loved when people would stop by or call to catch up and was never too busy to give advice, tell stories or sing along with the guitar.

Thanks to each of you for making his life special. He would always say “Every Day is a good day”

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 29, 2019 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. Services will follow starting at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Michael Nix officiating. Interment will follow at Cleveland Memorial Park, Cleveland, Texas.