Thomas "Fran" Francis Kirby

Thomas Francis Kirby “Fran,” 77, from Great Falls, Montana passed away Monday, August 16, 2021, surrounded by his family due to complications from a stroke. A graveside service will be held at Tiger Butte Cemetery on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Fran was born on December 28, 1943, in Great Falls, Montana. He was the oldest of six boys born to Thomas J. and Nina (Johnson) Kirby. He attended school in Great Falls and graduated from Central Catholic High School. Growing up he had a passion for sports which continued throughout his life, as he could always be found watching a game on television, especially University of Montana Griz and Gonzaga games. Growing up Fran would often go out to help his uncles/mentors on the ranch in Tiger Butte where he spent time with his many cousins. Fran was drafted into the United States Army and served overseas during Vietnam; this would forever change him. His father was critically injured in a head-on train wreck in 1971, Fran quickly stepped up to be the man of the family helping his mother with the three youngest brothers still at home. He worked for the Anaconda Company at the Smelter in Black Eagle until their closure. He was also very active in leather working and boot repair. He paid the bills and took care of the family's needs while his father recovered from his injuries. After the closure of the Smelter, Fran moved to Hungry Horse with his youngest brother Ed, where he met Sharon Packwood and the two would spend several years together outside of Coram and Fairfield, MT. During this time, Fran worked for the National Park Service in Glacier National Park in maintenance at Babb and Lake McDonald. Fran then moved to Somers, MT where he lived for a short time with his brother, Timothy. While there he worked at Habitat for Humanity in Kalispell. After retirement, he stayed in Somers for several years. When his father fell ill, Fran returned to Great Falls to once again help care for his parents until their final days. Fran adored his nieces and nephews, and always wanted to stay up on their activities. He enjoyed his time with them sharing his cabin at Logging Creek teaching them how to fish. He was a mountain man at heart and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and living off the land. He had two horses, Blaze and Monty, that he taught many of his nieces and nephews how to ride. After his stroke in 2018, he came to live in Belt with his brother, Roy and sister-in-law, Suzanne. Roy and Suzanne, along with his niece, Laura and her husband, Nathan cared for Fran until he decided he wanted his own space. Fran continued to be the family man keeping track of all the great nieces and nephews. Family was very important to him, and he loved them all very much. He moved into Park Place and was there for just over a year until his passing. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1087. Fran was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas J. and Nina Kirby; brothers, Robert J. Kirby, Timothy Kirby, Daniel Kirby, and Edward Kirby; sister-in-law, Vicki Kirby; grandparents; and many uncles and aunts. Fran Kirby is survived by his brother, S. Roy (Suzanne) Kirby of Belt; sisters in-law, Brenda Link of Ridgeland, Wisconsin, Debra Kirby of Great Falls, and Rita Graham of Echo Lake; nieces and nephews, Laura (Nathan) Kirby-Wilson of Millegan, Kerianne Kirby-Evans (son, Ray) of Charlo, Samuel J. (Clancey) Kirby (children, Samuel R., Chayse, Andi, and Tye) of Armington, Robert T. Kirby (son, Zachary), Samaria Kirby (daughter, Victoria), Traci Kirby, Cody Kirby and Kady (Connor) Murphy (children, Kirby and Owen) of Great Falls, Daniel Kirby (children, Sergeio, Aliana, and Sasha), and Matthew Kirby of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Heather Chi Kirby (sons, Seamus and Fergus) of Everette, Washington, Daphne Kirby (daughter, Ryker) of Halfway, Oregon, and Thomas Jordan Kirby of Billings; friend, Sharon Packwood of Coram and her children, Lewis Packwood, Mary (Gary) Nelson (sons, Jacob, William, and Ryan), and Nora (Elmer) Framness, (children, Jesse, Stephen and Kalista). Donations in Thomas Francis Kirby’s name may be made to the Great Falls Vet Center; Montana VA Health Care System, Attn: Voluntary Services, P.O. Box 167, Fort Harrison, MT59636; in the memo line please include Great Falls Vet Center Thomas F. Kirby. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.SchniderFuneralHome.com.