Mildred M. Kirk, 89, Was Former Island Resident

Mildred M. Kirk, 89, of Long Prairie, Minn., died Friday, Nov. 7, at the Long Prairie Memorial Nursing Home.

She was born on June 12, 1914, in Arbroath, Scotland, to David and Jemima McLeod Malcolm. She immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old, and her family settled in Methuen. She spent much of her childhood in Lawrence. As a child, she was an accomplished toe dancer gymnast and won many medals for her Scottish dancing. After graduating from Lawrence High School, she attended McIntosh Business School. She was active in Christian Endeavor, a Christian group for young adults. She worked at new England Power as a secretary until her marriage. She married Arthur Kirk on Oct. 1, 1939, and they made their home in North Andover. She worked at Stevens Woolen Mills, Davis and Furber Machine Co. and Craig Systems.

They retired to the Vineyard, where they lived until her husband's death in 1982. She returned to Vineyard Haven with her sister, Mary Athearn, in 1986, and left to live in Minnesota with her daughter and son in law, Jo and Lenny Anderson, in 1994.

In Minnesota, she was an active member of American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie. On the Vineyard, she attended First Baptist Church and was an active member of the Tisbury Senior Center.

She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and bird-watching, and was an avid reader.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kirk was predeceased by three brothers, James, David and John; and two sisters, Ella Cumming and Mary Athearn. Survivors include four children, John Kirk and his wife, Patti, of West Tisbury; Mary Gillis and her husband, Walter, of Methuen; Arthur Kirk of Amesbury; and Jo Anderson and her husband, Lenny, of Long Prairie, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie, with interment at Ridgewood Cemetery in North Andover. Arrangements were by the Stephan-Stein Funeral Home in Long Prairie.