Kelley Greene

Kelley Kirksey ?Kirk? Greene of North Little Rock literally moved from the hands of his wife, mother, and sister Victoria, to those of his father, kin, and friends in a gentle sleep. He breathed his last at 9:30 P.M., Monday, October 22, 2007 after only an eleven month battle with pancreatic cancer. As a ?Monday?s Child? born March 3, 1969, he was not only ?fair of face? but with a giant-sized heart. As his sister, Torre, once stated, he could depart a plane in the most remote region of the world and there would be someone who greeted him with, ?Hey, Kirk, how?s it going??
Survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Mathis Greene, son Kaleb Dalton Greene, mother Gaye (Stormes) Greene, brothers George David Greene and James Garrett Greene and sisters Victoria ?Torre? Rayburn Greene and Mary G. Smiley. He packed his 38 years of lifetime tightly with relatives and extended family he always held dear. He was especially close to his Uncle Mike Stormes and family. He lost his father, David Roger Greene, to cancer exactly a year ago this month.
On a trip to Washington, D.C. at ten years old, he met Ray Scott on the plane, who then invited him to Senator Pryor?s office, and later with his sister, Victoria, met Mrs. Sadat and Mrs. Begin on that historic 1979 peace trip.
Kirk worked in the Explorer program at the Little Rock Zoo, amassing thousands of hours in volunteer work, hugging baby snow leopards and knowing his God after being attacked by a tayra and surviving.
He loved theatre and during the Rand Hopkins years at The Arkansas Art Center, won hearts as a workhouse boy in ?Oliver? and later had a role in the ?Hobbit.? He believed in the magic of theatre and life.
Schooled at St. Patrick?s and Catholic High School, he then lived in the Colorado ski country and the Mardi Gras New Orleans with his West Coast family rounding out his travels.
His greatest moment and joy in life came with the birth of his son, Kaleb?now almost fourteen and living light-years into the future with his mother, Monica Beavers Ritchie and second father, Michael (Guido) Ritchie, who has guided Kaleb in his love for music with Bass lessons. Kirk saw Kaleb gain second chair status in the Arkansas 2007 Southern All Region Symphony Orchestra-moving from the successful foundation of Teacher?s Pet pre-school to a joy of learning for his lifetime.
Kirk loved animals, people and adventures (even the mis-adventures), but along the way, he never forgot a friend or a kindness to him. He never spoke ill of anyone. If he loved you, it was forever.
No one walked through Kirk?s life without being touched. He was our heart and we will miss his light sorely.
A memorial service to remember Kirk will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Services conducted by North Little Rock Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.