Douglas Gordon Kirby, age 78, of Pensacola, passed away suddenly on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Douglas was born on May 15, 1941 to Douglas and Lillie Kirby (nee, Nuttycombe) in Brantford, Ontario Canada. He attended Brantford Collegiate Institute and later earned his Bachelor of Science in business and administration from Southern Illinois University.

A devoted and loving husband and father, Douglas proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for 27 years, retiring from the Corps with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. After his service in the USMC, he began working for the National Naval Aviation Museum as Restoration Department Manager for the next 25 years of his career.

In 2015, Douglas fully entered retired life, an event he took to like a duck to water. A new tradition quickly emerged in retirement in the form of his weekly Thursday morning coffee meetings at Whataburger with his friends. These weekly meetings brought him so much joy, and he looked forward to them with a vigor reserved for only the most celebrated occasions.

A talented musician, Douglas played the guitar and loved old school country music. He was an avid reader who enjoyed learning about famous figures in history, aviation and politics.

One of his proudest contributions of late was the restoration of the SeaCobra helicopter on Bayfront Parkway at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola. The project was featured on WEAR-TV's "Angels In Our Midst." Following is a link to the segment: https://weartv.com/features/angels-in-our-midst/in-honor-of-the-fallen-lest-we-forget

Douglas is preceded in death by his mother and father, Lillie and Douglas Kirby. He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Kathleen Patricia Kirby and his daughter, Donna Gayle Kirby, both of Pensacola; two brothers, Terry Kirby and his wife Katy, and Robin Kirby and his wife Marie, both of Brantford Ontario, Canada. He is also survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and his beloved "granddog," Maggie – "Poppy and the Puppy."

The family would like to thank Dr. Carrie Gray for her loving care, friends Peg and Eric Nickelsen, and the many he loved in Pensacola and beyond - far too numerous to list here.

Douglas's Whataburger Coffee Crew were a group he looked forward to seeing each week, and who brought him much friendship and laughter: Tony McFarlane, Bob Matlock, Paul Durant, Drannon Vines, Rob Carleen, Grady Miller, Dwayne Meyers, Frank Antes, Eddie Barlow (deceased,) Dave Ebert, Paul Schumacher, Harry Brandt, Eric Petuchov, Vinny & Maria DeVita, Ron Jacquet, George Maxey and Mike Boitnott. Thank you all for the community of your friendship with Doug.

Kathleen and Donna would like to thank everyone for the tidal wave of love and support they have received from family and friends both near and far. Please know that the outreach is helping to sustain them during this very difficult time.

Douglas's loving wife, Kathleen, has asked to include the following poem:

"The Clock of Life"
The clock of life is wound but once, and no one has the power,
To tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad, indeed, to lose one's health is more,
To lose one's soul is such a loss, that no man can restore.
The present only is our own, so live, love, toil with will,
Place no faith in tomorrow, for the clock may then be still.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to "Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter" at http://www.ecasfriends.com/