Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kirk, 95, of Durham, died on Friday, February 9, 2018. Mrs. Kirk was born as Dora Bell Pruit (Pruiett) in 1922 in Hickman County, Tennessee, the daughter of the late James and Mary King Pruit. She was orphaned at a very early age and spent those early years with extended family in Caruthersville, Mo. until she was 8 years old. At that age in 1930 she joined her sister Teresa to live with six other orphans in a Catholic convent in St. Louis. In her own words, “these were some of the best years of my life”! As her life’s journey continued at the age of 15 she came under the custody of foster parents in Orange County California. She was adopted in 1941 by those foster parents Edward and Margaret Bruning where her name was formally changed to Mary Elizabeth Bruning. She completed high school and attended San Francisco College for Women. She enlisted and served in the U. S. Navy as a WAVE during World War II and was stationed in 1944-1945 serving the wounded in San Diego Naval Hospital. In June 1945 she married the late James Anderson and moved from San Diego to Charleston, WV where she continued her education at Morris Harvey College. She later moved to Huntington, WV where she attended Marshall College and met Ted Kirk who she married in 1950 and lived together for over 50 years before he passed on. They made a home in Barboursville, WV where they raised their three children. Mary aspired to management positions as a Director of Food Services at several large institutions including Marshall University for over 20 years, Huntington State Hospital, and Barboursville Veteran’s Hospital until she retired in 1987. Mary was active in several organizations including the Barboursville Lion’s Club, Elk’s Club, VFW, and Our Lady of Fatima Church. Mary was an avid sports fan and a lifelong Marshall supporter. She had a vibrant and outgoing nature with a large network of friends in the Huntington WV area. With her background in organizing events and meal planning, she loved to throw parties and entertain a very close-knit group of friends and family. She enjoyed life to the fullest while maintaining the traditional family role. Mary was always asked how she stayed so young and young looking to which she answered, “Keep your sense of humor”. Mary’s life was an adventure and led her to travel from coast to coast and at the age of 91, she moved from Barboursville, WV to Hillsborough, NC where she lived near her children and shared a home with her daughter Bonnie. In her 95th year she continued to enjoy her social activities, meals with friends and family, and was frequently seen enjoying herself in the various restaurants in the area where she made many new friends in celebrating life in her later years. She especially enjoyed her time with the new friends and caring staff at Bartlett Reserve in Durham, NC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Kirk; brothers, Jim and Everett Pruit; sister, Teresa Lesinski; granddaughter, Shannon Kirk, grandson, Adrian Kirk, and daughter-in law Linda Kirk. She is survived by her children, Theodore J. Kirk (Mary A.), Bonnie Kaye Kirk, James C. Kirk (Bobbi); grandchildren, Kristin Brown and Chris Kirk, grandson-in law, Brandon Reed, great-grandchildren, Tristan Reed, Jaylyn Brown, Kendall Brown, step-grandchildren Michael O’Dell (Sonia) and Timothy O’Dell (Laura), step-great grandchildren Hope O’Dell, Luke O’Dell, Julianna O’Dell, Emilia O’Dell, and other loving family members. Services will be held at a later date in Barboursville, West, Virginia.
