Mr. William "Bill" or "Billy" Kirk, Jr., age 73, of Vernon, AL, passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023, at his residence.

Bill was born April 20, 1950, in Mobile, AL, to the late William L. Kirk and Margaret Turner Kirk.  He was a member of Gordo First Baptist Church, and a graduate of Gordo High School (Class of 1968), and was a two time All-State band member.  Bill attended Troy University on a band scholarship and later became student director of "The Sound of the South".  He played in various marching, symphony, jazz, and rock bands over the years.  Bill was a proud member of the 151st Army National Guard Band in Montgomery, AL.  During his time at Troy, Bill traveled on the campaign trail with presidential candidate George C. Wallace as a member of the 7-piece American Independent Party Band.  Bill started his oil and gas career with Warrior Drilling in 1977, retiring in 2020 after 43 years as a Petroleum Landman/Land Manager for various independent companies.  Bill was Regional Manager for the Trust Natural Resources Dept./AmSouth Bank for five years during this time.  While with Am South, Bill graduated Co-Salutatorian from Southern Trust School, Spring Hill Collage in Mobile, AL.  During his oil and gas career, Bill lived in Tuscaloosa, Oklahoma City, Shreveport, and Northport.  He was a registered Professional Landman with the American Association of Professional Landmen in Fort Worth, TX and co-founder of the Black Warrior Association of Professional Landmen in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.  After moving to Vernon in 2018, Bill worked part time for the Strawbridge Law Firm.

Funeral services will be Sunday, November 19, at 2:00 PM, in the chapel of Chandler Funeral Home, with Mark Brown officiating.  Burial will follow at Fellowship Baptist Cemetery.  Visitation will be 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service.

Active pallbearers will be Chris Robertson, Colton Helms, Brian Berry, Brent Morrison, Joy Elliott, Joseph Burnett, Gary Elliott, and Robbie Bradford.  Honorary pallbearers will be Owen Brown, John Floyd, Steve Caldow, Mark Powell, Frank Elmore, Tommy Holley, David Wilkins, Jim Sledge, Bill Adams, Kirk Patterson, Rob McGee, and Tommy Zeanah.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William L. Kirk and Margaret Turner Kirk.  He is survived by his loving wife and parner, Karon Kirk of Vernon, AL; daughter, Amy (Adam) Agee of Tuscaloosa, AL; grandsons, Parker, Theo, and Sam Agee of Tuscaloosa, AL; two step-daughters, Candy (Daren) Gordon of Vernon, AL and Allison Mudd of Tuscaloosa, AL; step-son, Rhett (Janine) Trimm of Helena, AL; and step-grandchildren, Shiloh and Nicholas Gordon and Mason and Kendall Trimm.

Memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org , or to Alabama Baptist Children's Home, 2681 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham, AL 35216 or online at www.alabamachild.org.