Jesse Don Kirkes

Jesse Don Kirkes (Don) was born on November 26, 1937 to Forrest and Jewel Kirkes in Carlsbad, NM. He died on Sunday, May 16, 2021 in Albuquerque, NM. He was the oldest of six children, and grew up doing farm work around the Otis area near Carlsbad.

Don loved sports and made the Cavemen varsity baseball team as a sophomore. Don's love of sports led him to coach his oldest daughter in softball. He was also known to be a big fan of Caveman sports, even receiving a plaque as "Fan of the Year" at one point.

After graduating high school in 1956, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was sent overseas to Germany where he repaired X-ray machines.
Not long after being discharged, he was back in Carlsbad, where his Uncle Chock set him up on a blind date with his family friend and former neighbor, Margaret Maedgen. Don was smitten, and proposed within the week. They were married September 20, 1961 and would have celebrated 60 years together this year.
Don spent the first years of his marriage working at the potash mines near Carlsbad. He later began working for Carlsbad Motor Company, eventually becoming the general manager. He retired from the Ford dealership in 2001 after over 40 years of service.

Don was a devoted family man, and especially loved being "Pop" to his 9 grandchildren who describe him as kind, determined, competitive, brave, loyal, generous, someone they look up to, and a real hoot when he was being silly.

He was a life-long member of the Church of Christ, as are many of his family. He exemplified generosity, as he could not stand for people to be in need. Don was at his best demonstrating his fierce love and compassion when any of us were really in need. Without judgment, he did everything he could to protect and defend his family, no matter what it required or what he risked himself.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret Ann Kirkes; his son, Joel Don Kirkes; his daughter Shawna Gonzales and her husband, David; his son, Loren Kirkes and his wife, Anna; and his daughter, Nancy Shoemaker and her husband Tom; his 9 grandchildren: Chad Cowan, Shane Cowan, Brittany Kirkes, Justin Cowan, Madison Cowan, Brandon Johnson and his wife, Jade, Ashlyn Johnson, Mason Kirkes, and Jeremy Kirkes; and his 2 great-grandchildren: Sebastian Johnson, and Declan Kirkes; brothers Trent Kirkes and his wife, Sherlene, Glen Kirkes and his wife, Jerry, and Ralph Jennings and his wife, Kathy; and his sister, Lois Brookover.

Two memorial services will be held in Don's honor. The first will be at 2:00 p.m. on May 23, 2021 at Mountainside Church of Christ, 12300 Indian School Rd. NE in Albuquerque. The second will be at 2:00 p.m. on May 29th, at the Church of Christ, 3217 Old Cavern Highway, in Carlsbad, NM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at htpps://act.alz.org/donate in memory of Don Kirkes. Emails notifying family of your gift may be sent to mak013141@gmail.com.