A beautiful, gracious member of our current class of Leadership 2000 passed away this past weekend after a valiant fight with cancer. She will be remembered for her courage and kindness Kimberly Ann Wilson, 44, Kansas City, Mo., passed away May 3, 2009. Services to honor her life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the Community of Christ Stone Church, Independence, Mo. Visitation will begin one hour before service time at the church. Services in Henderson, Tenn., and interment at Bailey's Cemetery, Jack's Creek, Tenn., will follow on Saturday, May 9.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Kim Wilson's Courage Fund, Attn.: Connie Holmes, Security Bank, 701 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101.
The poet Hafiz wrote "Life, life is far too sacred to ever end." Those who knew Kim Wilson know this. Her influence will live on in the hundreds of people she touched. Love was Kim's mantra. She reflected love and a playful spirit in all she did: in her relationships, her personal ministry, and her vocation. Kim is truly unforgettable. Kim is survived by her domestic partner, Tonja J. Speer of the home; father, Billy G. Wilson, Jackson, Tenn.; mother, Paulette Wilson Inman, Reagan, Tenn.; sister Jan Reece, Henderson County, Tenn.; brothers David Wilson, Raytown, Mo., Matthew Wilson, Liberty, Mo.; maternal grandparents, Geneva and Lester Perry, Reagan, Tenn.; large extended family, and Kim's "Tribe", the group of friends who provided unwavering support to Kim and Tonja through illness and death. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arr.: Speaks Suburban Chapel)
Published in Kansas City Star on 5/6/2009
Having known Kim for such a short time I ponder sometimes how much of an impact she had on my life. I mean come on, you know someone for the equivalent of less than 1 week and yet you feel that you have lost a long lost friend.
ReplyDeleteKim and I were two of three "Oranges" in the class and I know this may be a "Bluish" way of thinking, but I will always think of her when I think of the color Orange. I can still see her at the retreat trying to take it all in, and yet there was some hesitancy. Was she like me, trying to digest this whirlwind of craziness or was she already starting to deal w/her personal problems.
We had to do an exercise were we had to plan a party, come on you still remember it verbatim, but Kim, Gaylen and myself looked at the other groups and their grandiose planning and then, as on cue, turned to each other and smiled wrote our 4 simple steps and we were done. I remember just sitting there like we had figured out the riddle and watched the other groups frantically wrap up their parties.
Kim looked over at me and smiled, we connected.
In the Orange world, Kim was the Ying to me and Galen’s Yang. She fit like a glove!
As probably like others in the group, I wish I could have spent more quality time w/Kim and gotten to know her better. But when I sat and reflected in my car after attending her visitation, I felt that the time I spent was perfect. Both in the length of time and in relation to this point of my life.
We have all lost people through death in our life, some close, some that have a profound impact. Some are our family members, best friends, mentors or inspiring people from afar. I have lost some profound people in this short 40 years:
My dad when I was 4
My grandfather at 18
My grandmother at 21
Plus other family, friends and inspiring people. Yet sometimes it’s the inspiring people that can make the biggest impact.
And now for a message to Kim, (I know your still watching over us in that “quiet yet comforting” way w/that great big smile) thanks for being a part of my life, sharing your beautiful accent and fighting all the way. Also, thanks for the list of ways to live life, I read through those and smiled so strongly that I forgot you were gone. (I feel you did that on purpose!)
Well, stay Orange Kim – it suits you well.
Chris
P.S. I typed them out and keep them in my office as a reminder of how to live, boy you nailed it on the head w/those.