In the evening of Sept. 24, 2019, Ronnie Keith Kirk passed away in his sleep and woke up with Jesus.

Born in Bolivar, Tennessee on May 14, 1963, to Joseph "Joe" and Marie Aline Kirk, Ronnie lived a life full of storytelling, love, adventure, and compassion for anyone he met.

Ronnie always made family one of his biggest priorities, as he found joy in being a devoted husband, a loving and encouraging father, and a proud granddaddy. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Rhonda, and their two children; daughter Jennifer (Alex) Slayton, and Joey (Chelsea Schneider) Kirk. For those who ever spoke with him knew more about his five grandchildren than anyone else; granddaughters Alexis and Emma; and grandsons Grady, Henry, and Theodore. He is also survived by his mother Marie Aline Kirk; sisters Pat Bayless and Debbie Alexander; his brothers Wayne and Chad Kirk.

He met Rhonda in 9th grade at West High School in Denmark, Tennessee, and they graduated together in 1981. As high-school sweethearts, he married the love of his life on April 16, 1982 in Mercer, Tennessee in front of their friends and family. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and attended basic training in August of 1982. He served our country for 12 years before shifting into civilian life.

As young parents, Ronnie and Rhonda built a life across Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Germany, Alabama, Florida, and back to the great state of Texas, where they've settled in Wylie for the past 24 years. He worked at Nortel Networks (Ericsson) in Richardson, XO Communications in Dallas, and eventually opened his own Meineke Car Care Center, serving the "small" Texas town he learned to call home.

Friends, family, and our community are invited to celebrate the life of Ronnie at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 6. His services will be held at Elevate Church, located at 701 FM 544 in Murphy, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a Memorial Fund to the Early Childhood Department of Elevate Church. Ronnie & Rhonda served as a couple in the Toddler Ministry Room for 2 years, faithfully loving each child and teaching them the truth of God's Love for them. Even when they weren't serving, they would welcome each toddler they saw.