James "Kirk" Roger Kirkendoll

**In Loving Memory of James "Kirk" Kirkendoll** 

**Age 77**

James Kirkendoll, a beloved resident of Claremore, OK, was born on December 11, 1946, in Vinita, OK, to Cecil and Marie (Miller) Kirkendoll. He passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Broken Arrow, OK.

Raised in Vinita, James proudly graduated from high school there before answering the call to serve his country in the Marines. He completed two tours in Vietnam and received an honorable discharge, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life. James found his calling as a master mechanic, a profession that eventually led him to a successful career in car sales.

A dedicated member of Bethany Baptist Church, James married his sweetheart, Karnetha “Knikki” Wright-Fox, on March 5, 2023, in Claremore, OK.

Throughout his life, James traveled extensively across the United States. Upon retirement, he returned to his roots in Eastern Oklahoma. He had a profound love for cars, loved being a Shriner and everything they helped with, enjoyed fishing, and cherished the moments spent hosting backyard barbecues with family and friends.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Marie Kirkendoll; his brothers, Cecil Joe Kirkendoll, John Kirkendoll Sr., Lawrence Kirkendoll Sr., and Clyde Hardrick; and his sisters, Gracie Walker and Flora Crawford.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Karnetha “Knikki” Wright-Fox, of the home; his daughters, Kelly, Brandy, Darniece, Sheila, Shawn, Tiffany, Ariel, and Osceola; his sisters, Doris Grimes and Ruth Perry and her husband Toby, both of Frederick, OK; his brother, Jessie Ray Kirkendoll and his wife Vickie of Clinton, Garnett Hardwick of Oklahoma City, Anthony Hardwick and his wife Marsha of Wichita, Kansas; and a host of grandchildren, other relatives, and friends.

A celebration of James’s life will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, October 25, 2024, at Bethany Baptist Church, with Rev. Carl Kirkendoll and Rev. Ruth Perry officiating. The service will be under the compassionate care of Lee Hometown Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Clinton Cemetery.

James Kirkendoll will be greatly missed, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and cherished memories in the hearts of all who knew him.