John Kirley, 56, died of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease on November 25, 2020. John was born in 1963 to Floyd and Fern Kirley in Townsend, Montana. His father died before John was two years old. His sisters, Patricia Kirley Lusetti and Mary Kirley Clow, were about 20 years older than him, so he grew up with just his mom and brother, Bill Kirley, at home.
When he reached school age, he lived with foster families in Helena so that he could attend special education classes there. He returned home to his family in Townsend each weekend and every summer. After John had lived with a number of different families, John’s teacher and his wife took John in to give him a more stable setting. He lived with them for 37 years. He called Jim and Susan McGrane his parents, and Kim McGrane Beaver and E.J. “Eddy” McGrane were his sister and brother.
John was a West Mont client for over 30 years. Through West Mont’s supported employment program, John worked at Burger King for 21 years. Everyone should hope to have a boss as fun, patient, and supportive as Jeremy was for John.
There are so many others who were also kind and generous to John, whether bringing him souvenir hatpins from their travels, letting John have their pens (knowingly or unknowingly), or just letting John tell them he was good at something – singing, for example. The congregations at Holy Cross in Townsend and Our Lady of the Valley in Helena can attest that he tried valiantly to sing like his favorite Italian tenor, whom he called Pottiwotti. The way John said your name the first time was what he was going to call you for good, and it was not going to change. Isn’t that right, Tyer James?
John was always wanting to “go somewhere.” Outings with Jim and Susan were always fun, even if he couldn’t stay awake in the car. Staying in a hotel was great, and a cruise was even better. His favorite place to go was California, where his sister Pat and brother-in-law Vance live. There, he and Bill could go for walks on the beach to look for seashells and go swimming in the pool, even in winter. Wherever he went, he loved to take a camera or three. But you couldn’t go anywhere if it was time for Lawrence Welk or WWE.
John loved interacting with people. Father Shea summed it up when joked, “if only he could overcome his shyness.” Many will miss John’s wonderful, infectious, and sincere smile.
John’s mother moved to Helena to live with son Bill in 2003, and she was able to take care of John on weekends, when he wasn’t at the McGranes’, until her death at age 99. John then continued to live with Bill until Alzheimer’s required him to move to a West Mont group home, where he received very compassionate care until his death.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Clow (Jim), of Edmond, OK. He is survived by his brother, Bill Kirley, of Helena, his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Vance Lusetti, of Oceanside, California, and the Jim and Susan McGrane family of Helena.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to West Mont, 2708 Bozeman Ave., Helena, MT 59601 or at www.westmonthelena.com. Please visit www.helenafunerals.com to share memories of John.
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Big Sky Cremation & Twitchell Funeral Se rvice says
13 files added to the album Memories Album
Bill Kirley says
16 files added to the album Memories Album
Sunshine Cleveland says
Pens, hat pins, and business cards… what a beautiful soul that quickly became one of the loves of my life too! Even after I left BK, John still remembered me for years. The last time I saw John was at the park in East Helena. He remembered Burger King and Jeremy and told the Westmont employee that Sunshine was nice to him but didn’t connect the fact that I am Sunshine. God Bless you, Bill, for your patience and allowing me the time to visit with you and John when I saw you around town.
Saleana Bowen Zarske says
John, I always enjoyed your smiling face when I walked in to BK on the weekends to work. Your smile could brighten anyone’s day. You were the sweetest soul. Always giving hugs, telling me I was pretty, and stealing my pens from the front room.
You will never be forgotten by the lives you touched. I have definitely become a better person working with you and being around you! :purple_heart: xxx
Hugh McWhorter says
John always referred to me as Cute Cue and that was John, he could always make me smile.
My fondest memory of John was a fund raiser held at the fair grounds for the benefit of Farm In The Dell. John and another Down Syndrome man named Bryan Beebe ran a booth, selling produce from The Farm.
Like so many worth while projects in Helena the community wanted to support the cause and any number of people approached the booth inquiring as to cost.
To keep things simple son Eric and I priced everything at $1 and turned over the operation to John and Bryan. Here’s where the fun began:
Customer: “what is the cost of these items?”
Never very shy John took the lead: “this one’s a dollar; that one’s a dollar,” then pointing individually at the remaining items he said “dollar, dollar, dollar, dollar, dollar . . . . . dollar”. As sales progressed fewer and fewer items were available and John’s sales pitch got shorter.
Think about it. Had he said all items are $1 who the heck would have remembered that sales pitch.
Like all Down’s people there was a beauty in his thought process and delivery. Very innocent, very loving.
You always made me happy John,
Signed Cute Cue (a/k/a Hugh McWhorter)
p.s. John’s mother Fern was the first contributor to Farm In The Dell
Bill Kirley says
14 files added to the album Memories Album
Mary McWhorter says
You could always count on John to make you feel good about yourself. His compliments were a treasure to remember. As I write this I can hear his voice saying, “Mary you look beautiful” or “Mary you look nice.” Sometimes that just made my day.
John was always a gentlemen and the girls all claimed him as their boyfriend. He was very well dressed and always presented himself well.
We enjoyed craft activities with him. He was so proud of the Advent wreath he made for his mother.
John, I will always remember you. You were an inspiration to me.
Kate Fry says
Dear Bill,
I am so sorry to hear about John. I actually thought about the two of you earlier this week and wondered how you were doing. I will keep you in my thoughts.
Kate Fry
Bill Kirley says
Thank you, Sunshine, for the note and the wonderful photos. Bill
Allanah Cleary Beh says
John: You are now on the greatest adventure of your life. May you soar unto stardust. Holding you in my heart and my prayer. Bill, I want to be like you when I grow up…
Love, Allanah