Kimberly Kay Butler

At the end of the day, September 11, 2023, after a long courageous battle with juvenile diabetes, heart and kidney failure, our beloved Kimberly Kay (Kimbrough) Butler went home to our Father, Lord Jesus Christ and many loved ones who preceded her.  Those include her father, James Kimbrough, her father-in-law, Charles Butler, her grandparents, Jim and Belle Mahan and Harley and Eva Kimbrough, her uncles Harley, Jr and David Mahan and many great aunts and uncles.

   Kim entered this world as a tiny “bundle of joy: at 5 lbs. 13 oz. and remained petite in size with a huge personality of love, smiles and encouragement.  She was her dad’s “Kimmey Kay” as a baby and “Miss America” as an adult.  She was always her mom’s “Punkin Doodle.”  Her grandfather, Jim, called her “the Family’s little cheerleader.” She loved sending cards/notes of encouragement and writing on Facebook.  She especially loved children.  She was told by doctors that she shouldn’t have children but she was determined and along came the “apple of her eye” son, Cody Kirk and then daughter-in-law, Chelsi whom Kim said was the daughter she never had.  She never missed a baseball or football game of Cody’s who was known as “Butters.”  Then Kim became Nana to her special grandchildren, Lilley Rain who is known as our “Little Miss Sunshine” and Hudson James known as “Huddy.”

   Kim had a beautiful voice and as a teenager used it to praise our Father.  She looked for the good in people and was very verbal in her beliefs even stubborn in some ways.  She said of this earthly journey that it seemed as if we go over one hurdle and then there was another one but when we had trouble going over that our Father carried us.

   Kim grew up in Woodville First Baptist Church and accepted Jesus as a young age.  Her baptism was unique in that the baptistry was out of order and she was baptized along with several others in a pond on Seneca Road on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. 

   When she was able, she loved to “shop until you dropped” looking for bargains, specially, shoes and purses and shopping for gifts for others.  Christmas was her favorite time of year, the time for giving.  Several times she would learn of a family in need and ask that our family not exchange gifts but that we get gifts for that family.  What joy that brought her.

   Kim lived a very regimented life from 8 years of age with juvenile diabetes and got 10 or 11 years with an intestinal feeding tube and then last 10 weeks in Baylor. St. Luke’s Heart Clinic battling heart and kidney failure.  Her faith was strong and she never gave up hope.  Her faith and hope are no more because they have been fulfilled with a perfect, new, glorified eternal body and all that remains is love.

   Her husband, Chuck was at her bedside around the clock those past 10 weeks loving, encouraging and waiting on her.  No husband could have done more.  An outpouring of love in prayers and financial gifts from Family of Woodville First Baptist Church, Colmesneil Bethany Church and Beaumont Westgate Memorial Baptist Church along with family members and friends was so encouraging and appreciated.

   A special “thank you” to her childhood friend, Mariann and husband, Charlie Wiggins for keeping family’s beloved lab River and Dr. Moran and Krisi for kenneling River part of the time.  Special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Luther Travis, Dr. Robert Hood, Dr. Paula Denson, Dr. John Henderson, Dr. Brian Babin, Dr. Caleb Spurlock, Dr. Mehnaz Shafi, Dr. Joggy George, Pastors Jay Abernathy, Mark Tolar and Raymond Parker.

   We especially thank our heavenly Father for giving Kim to us for as long as He did, not our time, but His because He is perfect in all ways.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”  Our Father carried Kim through trials/difficulties during her lifetime and even gave her back to us several times.  We praise and thank Him for the time He gave us with her.

   Besides her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, Kim leaves her mother, Martha Kimbrough, mother-in-law, Sylvia Butler, brother and wife, and their children, Tim, Alyssa, Bella and James William Kimbrough and niece, Cindal O'Quain and husband, Brian and their child, Adam, brother-in-law and nephew, Joseph and Justin Butler, uncles and aunts, Bob and Jane Mahan, Jimmy and Ranodda Mahan, Kelly McClane and great aunts, Marjorie Barnes of Chester, Jennie Gilcrease, Margie Green and Eunice Louviere all of Lufkin and many cousins and friends.

   A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 11 am at the First Baptist Church in Woodville.  A visitation will be held Saturday starting at 10 am at the church.

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