William Harrison "Bill" Kirkland

Mr. William Harrison "Bill" Kirkland of Victoria, Texas, died Thursday, May 1, 2008 following a brief illness.

Mr. Kirkland was born April 7, 1956 in Atlanta, Ga., the son of Mary Ruth Queen Kirkland and the late Lonnie Kirkland. He moved to New Orleans, La., as a young child and grew up there. He lived in Victoria for most of his adult life. Bill worked as a Paramedic and EMT for many years; then specialized as a safety consultant and educator in the gas and oil industries, focusing his expertise on off-shore operations and safety. In addition to wife and family, what he loved most was: music of all kinds (he was an accomplished trumpet player), comedy, humor, history, study of space exploration and cooking. The place he loved most on earth was Blairsville. He loved exploring the mountains and trails of north Georgia.

Surviving Bill is his wife, Mary Martinez Kirkland of Victoria; mother, Mary Ruth Queen Kirkland of Blairsville; sister, Lynda Kirkland Harris of Blairsville; nephews, Will and Corey Harris, both of Blairsville; many cousins and friends also survive.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 5 p.m. from the Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Allison Mann officiating. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, the family requests that memorials may be made to the Musicians Village in New Orleans. Their web site is www.habitatnola. com in Bill's memory.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome. com.