William Harlon Kirkland, son of the late Elmer Kirkland and Alice Flowers Kirkland, was born on April 19, 1936, in Center Ridge, Arkansas, and departed this life on November 3, 2022, at his residence in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 86 years.

Mr. Kirkland was a Veteran of the United States Navy, a former employee of General Motors, and a member of the Dexter Church of Christ. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed gardening and fishing, and he was a jack of all trades. William was a man of faith, he was loved by his family, and anyone he came in contact with loved him.

On March 26, 1956, in Hernando, Mississippi, he was united in marriage to Doris Jordan. Mrs. Kirkland survives of their home in Dexter.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, William Kirkland Jr. and wife Tracy of Hewitt, Texas, and Darren Kirkland and wife Kay of Hewitt, Texas; by two daughters, Vickie Hess and husband Thomas of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and Terry Smart and husband Danny of Dexter, Missouri; by two brothers, Robert Kirkland of Dexter, Missouri, and Dwight Kirkland of Conway, Arkansas; by eight grandchildren, Jamie Combs and husband Roy, Tiffany Haley, Sheyenne Kirkland, Dakota Kirkland, Billy Kirkland, Laury Duty and husband Caleb, Justin Smart, and Jordy Smart; and by eight great-grandchildren, Alex Kirkland, Kalyn Kirkland, Forrest Duty, Hayden Cottrell, Haley Cottrell, Jackson Cottrell, Hollyn Fisher, and Jaxon Smart.

Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Emmy Freeman and Martha Maulding; and by his grandson, Michael Haley.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, November 7, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, November 7, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Craig Simon and Clyde Jacques officiating. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.