Kimberly Noelle Friery, 52, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, an amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to everyone, passed peacefully at her home Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. She was born April 20, 1969 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Kim is survived by her husband of over 21 years, Matt Friery; her three amazing children, Emma Noelle Friery of Fort Smith, Ella Rae Friery of the home and Elijah Curtis Friery of the home; her wonderful parents, Jerry and Jan Walrod of Fort Smith; her brother, Phillip Walrod and wife Amanda of Hot Springs, Arkansas; her nieces, Hattie and Elizabeth of Hot Springs; and her brother-in-law, Steven Friery of Fort Smith. She was the godmother of two fine young men, Matthew and KJ Corder of Hot Springs.
Kim will be reunited with other departed loved ones in eternal rest, including her grandparents, Paul and Mary Garret and A.B. and Irene Walrod; her mother-in-law, Shirleen Friery; and many friends.
Kim had a passion for children like no other. For many years, she was the children’s minister at Goddard United Methodist Church and had the Ruth Howe Memorial Preschool in her home. She spent many years as an active and passionate volunteer in the PTA for Ballman Elementary School, serving as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. For the 2016-2017 school year, she was awarded by the state of Arkansas for her outstanding and long dedication to children through her work with the PTA and Goddard Children’s Ministry. Kim also was a teacher at Grand Avenue Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Mother’s Day Out program. Prior to her work with children, Kim worked as a mortgage loan officer and originator at Superior Federal Bank and she was also a consultant for Arkansas F&I. Kim was past president and member of the Fort Smith Commissary Kiwanis Club, a member of First United Methodist Church, PEO Chapter AS, and was very active in mission projects at the church, especially the casserole ministry.
She was a graduate of Southside High School, and earned an associate degree from Westark Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University.
Kim was beautiful inside and out, and her kindness, her warmth, her welcoming and joyful spirit, and her strong faith inspired everyone in her life.
Honorary pallbearers are her dear friends Jeff and Frankie Allred; Lewis and Sheri Mathews; Thomas and Misty Dickson; her Ferndale family, Scott and Jennifer Faldon, Chris and Karen Nash, Benji and Christen Pryor, and Ali Sampson; as well as her best friend Kelly and husband Bret Kelchen.
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Fort Smith, followed by a celebration of life at the church’s Family Life Center. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name can be sent to Ballman Elementary School, 2601 South Q Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901 or the First United Methodist Church Children’s Ministries, 200 North 15th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901.
