Kirby Gray

A memorial service for Kirby Troy Gray of Hobbs, New Mexico, will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2008, at the American Legion.

Cremation will take place. Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel of Hope Funeral Home.

Mr. Gray, 45, died December 8, 2008, the day after his 45th birthshy;day, at his home in Hobbs, New Mexico. He was born December 7, 1963, in Deming, New Mexico.

Kirby spent his early childhood days growing up with his two older brothers in El Paso Natural Gas camps after the early loss of his mother. He graduated from Deming High School in 1982 and joined the Navy. After the Navy, he spent most of his adult life in Hobbs, New Mexico, where he worked very hard as an oilfield and construction worker. He was most recently employed at Big Bear Services of Artesia. He was a member of the American Legion.

Survivors include his father and stepmother, Jack and Janice Gray of Elephant Butte, New Mexico; three brothers, Greg Gray and wife Kathy of, The Colony, Texas, Jeff Gray and companion Lorenza Garcia of Deming, New Mexico, and Clay Gray of California; a stepbrother, Dean Tulk of Elephant Butte, New Mexico; and a half-sister, Melissa Phillips. His also survived by Pam Evans and a stepdaughter, Casi Jo Evans; a step-grandshy;daughter, Aubri Jade Aguilar of Hobbs, New Mexico; his friend, Kelly Payne of Hobbs, New Mexico; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

All who survive him will miss his zest for life, his cheershy;ful smile and his positive attishy;tude.

Kirby was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Mae Brdecko; his maternal grandshy;parents, Frank and Vera Brdecko; and his paternal grandparents, L.D. and Roxie Gray.

Service