FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WENDY KIRK
VISITATION
WHEN: Thursday, 6 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Oaklawn Funeral Home, 900 Navidad St., Edna
FUNERAL SERVICES
WHEN: Friday, 10 a.m.
WHERE: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 108 E. Gayle St., Edna
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WENDY KIRK
VISITATION
WHEN: Thursday, 6 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Oaklawn Funeral Home, 900 Navidad St., Edna
FUNERAL SERVICES
WHEN: Friday, 10 a.m.
WHERE: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 108 E. Gayle St., Edna
HOW TO HELP: Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Wendy Kirk Memorial Fund
EDNA - A crowd of solemn co-workers and friends gathered in front of the home where Wendy Smiga Kirk, 37, of Edna, died early Monday morning.
Her husband, James Donald Kirk Jr., 45, of Edna, was charged with murder.
"She was sweet," said Melisia Bryan, who worked with Kirk. She arrived to pay her respects at the candlelight vigil and to help remember Kirk as she was in life.
"Happy, smiling as usual," she said forcing back tears and clutching a candlestick. "She didn't talk much, she just smiled."
The gathering faced the home on the opposite side of the street, where Wendy Kirk's parents live.
Wendy Kirk was found in her bedroom in the 1100 block of North Kleas Street about 4:12 a.m.
Her husband called 911 and told police he had just killed his wife, said Edna Police Chief Clinton Wooldridge.
Wendy Kirk was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Dwayne Taylor at 5:20 a.m. Preliminary autopsy results from Travis County indicate it was a homicide, Wooldridge said. He would not release the cause of death or the motive.
Authorities also located a weapon on the scene believed to be used in the incident, but will not release the type of weapon found.
James Kirk remained in the Jackson County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Wendy Kirk, a registered nurse, worked as the director of nurses for Southbrooke Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Edna for a little more than a year. Co-workers remembered her as a pleasant person.
"Wendy was a very caring, outgoing and spunky person in both her professional and personal life," said Mindy Curlee, a spokesperson for the facility in a prepared statement. "The residents and families loved her. She will be missed beyond words. She was a wonderful mom, friend and co-worker."
The couple had been married 14 years and had two children, ages 13 and 8.
Wooldridge does not believe the couple had a history of violence.
"To my knowledge, neither party had any history with the Edna Police Department," Wooldridge said. "They were both upstanding citizens, quietly living their life and raising their family."
Although the children were at home when police arrived, they had no knowledge of the incident, Wooldridge said.
Neighbors said James Kirk appeared to be a family man and was often seen watching his children play, maintaining his yard or hosting family barbecues. Many agreed the incident was completely unexpected.
"I was shocked and couldn't believe it," said Angie Santellana, who lives across the street. "It's just so crazy I can't believe."
Santellana, who also works at Southbrooke, said she was concerned mostly for the children.
"I know they're going through a lot right now," she said. "It's horrible."
As the vigil continued, the soft flicker of candles lit the darkness on North Kleas Street as the people faced the Smiga home and sang a soulful "Amazing Grace."
I knew her, and this is quite the shock. Everything this article and others have said about how kind and sweet she was is completely true.
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