Pearl Kirlin, 96, of Stuart died Dec. 25, 2002, at Community Care Center, Stuart. Services were held Dec. 28 at Stuart Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bob Kersten and the Rev. Dean Porter officiating. Casket bearers were Gary Faust, Deane Beane, Steve Beane, Harold Sanford, Jr., Kenneth Kirlin, and Craig Frye. Honorary casket bearers were Robert Berne, Randy Kirlin, Jason Taylor and David Madson. Interment was at South Oak Grove Cemetery, Stuart. Gertrude Pearl Kirlin was born on March 8, 1906, to William and Martha (Hilsbeck) Dupuy on the farm in Guthrie Center. She attended school in Guthrie Center and spet her childhood there. She worked for Dr Clark in Stuart beginning at the age of 13 until she was married. She also worked as a custom hay baler, tying the bales by hand and she played Santa Claus for her neighborhood. On April 29, 1925, she married Omer "Ivan" Kirlin at the Methodist parsonage in Stuart. They had four children, Harold, Leroy, Velma and Mary. The family made their home in Stuart for a time, later living in Menlo, Redfield and Adair, before returning to Stuart in 1960. Over the years, Pearl took a wide variety of jobs, including cleaning homes, taking in ironing, and wallpapering. Pearl also ran the Kirlin Cafe in Redfield, clerked at Thornburgh Grocery in Menlo, cooked at Menlo Schools and at the Tri-Center Congregate Meals Program. She owned and operated Kirlin Dairy Inn in Stuart for many years. She was very proud of her participation on "operation Santa Claus" and even made dolls for the children. She was a member of Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church and was an avid traveler seamstress and woodworker. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ivan, her sons, Harold and Leroy; brothers, John, Harmon, Albert, Willard and Edward Dupuy, and her sisters, Florence Mains, Mabel McIntire, Bessie McLuen and Nellie Dupuy. Survivors include her daughters, Velma Jean Faust and husband Jams of Stuart, and Mary Sue Beane of Redfield; a sister, Mildred Cline of Menlo; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Professional services by Ruppert Funeral Home, Stuart
