Lynne M. Kirby

Lynne M. Kirby passed away at home, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Lynne was born in Columbus Ohio on May 9th, 1952, of Eugene and Inez Jenkins Kirby who precede her in death. As a youngster Lynne demonstrated a passion for all forms of art. Always encouraged by her loving mother, as a young girl she took ballet and studied art at The Columbus College of Art and Design. Following her graduation from Whetstone High School in 1970, she attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1975, returning to OSU in 2010 to obtain a master’s degree in art education Lynne worked alongside local area architects acquiring skills of drafting and design; later she worked in a printing shop developing expertise in graphic design. Developing a freelance career in graphic design, she opened Studio A as a graphics design company. Leaving behind Studio A she opened a small shop, “Wild About Nature” in Worthington. Lynne taught classes in print making, paper crafting, painting, and drawing to young and old alike who a shared an interest in nature. Following her masters, Lynne was privileged to work with Brenda Aminah Robinson and enjoyed time spent growing as an artist making Robinson’s RagGonNon dolls. Lynne also served as the Director of Art Education at the Village Academy in Powel where she taught stained glass, ceramics, drawing, painting, graphic design, and block printing. A pure joy entered her life in 1986 when her son Justin was born. Together they traveled on many family vacations to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Paris. While in the Caribbean she became interested in Scuba Diving and later proudly became a Certified Scuba Diver. Lynne believed in facing her fears head on and passed along that advice to her son, students, and others, with adventures in sky gliding and flying lessons. Lynne became a member of The Powell United Methodist Church where she started a Puppet troupe, directing and producing several dinner theater productions. It was while working on these shows that Lynne met her loving and dedicated life partner, Marty Harrison, as they directed and produced some of the shows together. In addition to her parents Lynne was preceded in death by Marty’s parents Robert and Mary Lou Harrison and sister-in-law Brenda Harrison. She is survived by her loving son, Justin Shoults of Boston MA, loving and dedicated life partner Marty Harrison of Powell OH, their fur babies Dixie Lillie and Mandy, loving and dedicated brother Lawrence E. (Larry) and Bobbie Kirby of Delaware OH. Additionally, surviving are sisters- in-law Beth (Scott) Keith of Kansas City, MO, Barb Harrison (Pat Gordon of Athens, OH, nephews and niece; Drew Keith, Kansas City, MO, Hannah (Sean) Stephenson, Pella, IA, and Dani Wasserman, Pittsburgh, PA. Lynne will be fondly remembered by the countless people in her life whom she touched by teaching them how to enrich their lives through art. An opportunity that deeply touched her was to teach students with autism how to draw and paint. She felt that this was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Because of her feelings one of Lynne’s most cherished organizations was Autism Speaks. Memorial contributions in her name can be directed to: https://www.autismspeaks.org/ohio-western-pa?form=FUNGHPWCKFG .

Lynne M. Kirby

May 9, 1952 - July 16, 2025