Kirby was born on Sept. 13, 1942, in Abbeville, La. to the late Fredman Sr. and Irene Guidry Hardy. He transitioned peacefully on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in Lake Charles, La., with his two children, Karen and Kurt, at his bedside. Kirby was the fifth of six children and the youngest of three brothers. 

 He was also a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 141. Kirby was employed by PPG for 30 years and retired at the age of 55. 

 Kirby was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart, Semonia Lemelle Hardy; his eldest son, Kevin Hardy; parents, Fredman Hardy Sr. and Irene Gladys Guidry Hardy; father-in-law, Telesphore Lemelle; mother-in-law, Lillian (Jones) Lemelle; nieces, Monica Guillory, Julie and Wanda Lemelle;  nephews, Matt Hardy and Derek Lemelle; sister-in-law, Barbara Allison; brothers-in-law, Franklin Geyen, Charles Lemelle, Eugene Lemelle, and Willie Smith.

 He leaves to cherish his memory his beautiful daughter and caretaker, Karen (Harold) McReynolds and son, Kurt (Tracie) Hardy. Granddaughters, Karley Picou and Kennedy Hardy; grandsons, Karlin Hardy, and Kelvin Hardy; great-grandson, Kyrick ”Ky” Picou; siblings, Joel (Donella) Hardy, Rosa Bello,  Fredman  Jr. (Geraldine) Hardy, Syrilda Guillory and Mae Belle Smith; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Geyen and Mary Lemelle of St. Louis; brothers-in-law, Frederick (Connie) Lemelle and Thomas (Margaret) Lemelle; God-children, Brandon Winey and Andrea Christopher; non-biological daughters, Juanita Darbonne-Davis, Symetress Robins,  Crystal Lewis-Brown and Connie Nelson, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving family members, and friends.

Visitation is at Combre Funeral Home, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, 8 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. with rosary starting at 9 a.m. The funeral will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church starting at 12 p.m. Internment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.