Aubrey Irby,

Services for Aubrey Earl Irby, Sr. 86 of Tyler will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Scott Wiley officiating. A private burial will follow in Cathedral of the Pines Cemetery in Tyler. Mr. Irby was born December 17, 1922 in Bunky, Louisiana to George Monroe and Lottie French Irby. He passed away Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler. Mr. Irby served in the U. S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He married Margaret Williams in 1946 and they moved to Tyler in 1948. They joined the First Baptist Church and became active in Sunday school, working primarily with young people. Their three children Aubrey Earl, Jr., David, and Cynthia were born and went through their high school years in Tyler. Aubrey was employed at Story Wright when he had an opportunity to enter business with a partner as a dealer for the Eastman Kodak Company copy machines. They soon bought the Muzak franchise which later became an FM radio station (KTYL) and then an AM station (KZAK). They were the first to have a country western format in East Texas. Although Aubrey never set out to draw attention to him, his life of public service touched many lives and put him in the spotlight on numerous occasions. As an active member of the Tyler Junior Chamber of Commerce, Aubrey served as the 44th President. He brought the “Miss Texas” pageant to Tyler and sponsored many other community projects. He was honored with a life membership in the Chamber of Commerce at age 35 as well as the Outstanding Jaycee of the Year Award. He also served as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Tyler, the YMCA, the Tyler Smith County United Way, the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. He was General Chairman for the annual United Way Campaign, the Boy Scouts Membership Campaign, the YMCA Drive, the Texas Baptist for Scouting, the Young Life Finance Campaign, and the former Retarded Children’s Campaign. In 1981, the Boy Scouts of America presented Aubrey with The Good Shepherd Award, a national recognition and Scouting’s Silver Beaver Award was also presented to him. Additionally, Aubrey was a member of Tyler Masonic Lodge 1233 and a charter member of Sharon Temple of the Shrine. He was a Life Member of the Alpha Kiwanis Club of Tyler where he served as President and a Life Member and President of Kiwanis International. Kiwanis always had a special place in his heart because of their work with and for children. He served on the Board of Directors of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, the Texas United Way, the East Texas Hospital Foundation, the Smith County Heart Association, the Smith County Red Cross, the East Texas Fair Association, East Texas Baptist University, South Central Region of Boy Scouts of America and others. He served many organizations in positions of leadership for more than one term. For over four decades, Aubrey served others in a variety of ways. Mr. Irby was preceded in death by his parents; his sons, Douglas Ray Irby (infant), 1947, and David Monroe Irby Sr., 2007; 2 sisters, Ethel Irby Jefferson and Estelle Irby Marsh; brothers Ancel Irby, Guy Irby and D. L. Irby. Aubrey is survived by his loving family including his wife of 63 years, Margaret Irby of Tyler; son, Aubrey Earl Irby, Jr. and wife Kay Lynne of Tyler; daughter, Cynthia Irby Dunlop and husband Jim of Houston; grandchildren, Amy Hebert, Tara Dunlop, David Irby Jr., Lori Sellers, Tony Sellers, Cody Castagno, and Carrie Moore; five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Jim Dunlop, Terry Penn, Keith Pruitt, Tony Sellers, Cody Castagno, David Irby Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be the Alpha Kiwanis Club of Tyler. Memorials in honor of Aubrey Irby may be made to Kiwanis International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3296 For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Aubrey Irby,

December 17, 1922 - July 9, 2009