Peggy Kirby

Peggy O’Neal Kirby of Atkins, Arkansas passed away on June 25, 2012. Peggy was the fifth child of Murriel (Faught) and Verlon O’Neal, born on January 30, 1951, in Oakland, California. Peggy attended Castlemont High School in Oakland, and graduated in 1969. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Roy O’Neal and sisters, Esther Pessano and Shawna O’Neal. Peggy is survived by her best friend and loving husband Jimmy Kirby, her brothers Jim O’Neal (Cindi) of San Lorenzo, California and Larry O’Neal (Linda) of Pleasanton, California, her nephews Michael (Duder) O’Neal, Larry Ryan O’Neal, Brian Pessano and niece Shannon (O’Neal) Hay, and 4 great nieces and nephews, Lauren, Hannah, Alex and Noah as well as many friends who she loved dearly. Peggy’s life passion was her love of animals, especially dogs. She referred to them as her 4-legged children. Peggy spent the last four years of her life operating JP Ranch and Rescue, a “no-kill” animal shelter in Atkins, Arkansas. Peggy and her husband Jimmy opened the shelter after a devastating tornado destroyed their home in February 2008. Through her dedicated hard work, she was able to care for and adopt out thousands of homeless animals that would have otherwise been euthanized. Peggy will be laid to rest with her parents and sisters at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, California. A celebration of Peggy’s life is scheduled for 6:00 PM, Thursday, July 5, at Lemley Chapel in Atkins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Peggy’s name to JP Ranch, 154 Ethel Place, Atkins, AR 72823, Liberty Bank Account #9137637.