Kimberly "Kim" Ann Castle

      When Kim walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Kim was and how she impacted those around her. Kim was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Kim wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Kim was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

      Kim was born on April 1, 1963 at Russell County Medical Center in Lebanon, VA. She was born to the proud parents (ha ha) Roger Lee Castle and Patty Sue Honaker Castle. Kim was raised in Lebanon, VA, but spent time in Phoenix, AZ and Bristol, VA. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Kim might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Kim was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

      Kim was raised with one sibling, that I tried to send back after he was born. She has one younger brother, David Brockman Castle. He was born Feb.16, 1970 (I think). Kim was very accepting and supportive of her family. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Kim was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Kim well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.

      As a young girl, Kim was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Kim was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Kim enjoyed playing softball, volleyball and a little basketball. She was a member of 4-H during Elem. school, and played Little League Baseball & began playing ladies softball. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, playing card & board games, and she has always enjoyed listening to all types of music. As a child she enjoyed playing in a sandbox that her dad made for her. And NO the cat didn't bury her. LOL. As a child she remembered singing in the church choir and traveling to Nashville to perform. She was always a good student, but didn't remember any particular awards that she received. Kim had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

      During her high school years, Kim responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. She attended John S. Battle High School in Bristol, VA and later graduated from Lebanon High School, Lebanon, VA. In 1981. Kim was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Kim absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. For Kim, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Kim a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything. She enjoyed all of her college prep classes. She throughly enjoyed science & algebra while at John Battle. Of course, being an athlete, she really enjoyed gym class. She remembered fondly, Mrs. Long's science class, Mr. Peltier for algebra, Coach Mink in gym, and she hated history; however, she fell in love and later married Coach Charlie Brown, her world history teacher. Kim excelled in athletics, I won the Algebra 1 award, but thought that most of her classmates will (hopefully) remember her as a fun loving, outgoing, jokester. Kim always wished she could go back to high school! She loved you guys!

      Kim did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. Kim attended Virginia Highlands Community College (twice) hahahaha! And have yet to finish. The 2nd time around was great! She was older and damned amazed at how smart she REALLY WAS! No, really, stop laughing, I, as Dad would always tell me, was a pretty fart smeller. (Smart Feller) for all you "duh's!" Out there. Graduate School nope. Does the school of hard knocks count? My favorite classes in college were Sociology, Psychology, and English Lit. She didn't have a favorite professor, to busy being a mom, wife, playing softball and attending Abingdon High girl's basketball games to form any attachment with the professors. Kim was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Kim's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Kim was always in quest of new things to learn and experience.

      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Kim was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Kim was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. While growing up some of her best friends were: "oh I have so many memories of so many people", Bev Fields (we grew up together), Sharon Steffey (we REALLY grew up together). I wonder if she still has the pictures? Hahaha! Teresa Meade, Catherine Linkous (she & I would sit in the car in the mornings before school and sing forever). Darlene Adams and ALL the guy friends I had! Mark Smith, Donnie Patrick (love you), Randy Coe. I could go on, you guys know who you are. Then at John Battle, Judy Branson! You were always there for me! I will never forget. Gina Garrett! You still make me LOL when I think of you. God, thanks for all of those whose lives I have been a part of. Later in life, she became best friends with; again, she was so blessed, Tracie Eaton, Rosa Perdue, Kathy VanDyke, Michael New, Foy Harris-the other half of me, Michael New, Janie Paul and so many more.

       Kim's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. Kim was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

      Kim was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Kim, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Brown home. Kim's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Kim was blessed with 2 girls. "My babies!:" as she referred to them. Her girl' s names are Aimee Nicole Castle Compton and Ashley Michelle Brown. My girls have now blessed me with four grandchildren. But I'm NOT OLD ENOUGH to be a "Nanna", The beautiful grandchildren are Mackaya (Aim's), Ethan (Ash's), Kinsley (Ash's) & Alec (Aim's).

      Kim was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. I have been a screen printer, medical receptionist, salesperson, and now administrative assistant at a funeral home. I know, me at a funeral home, but she enjoyed her work. " It will pay off big time one day." Don't laugh! *grin*. She worked for Hardee's, Abingdon Med. Group, Kelly & Green, most of my working years were spent with Masterline and now East Lawn Funeral Home. Kim was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Kim had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Kim's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor. Really Rosa you did, you just didn't know it!

      Because Kim loved to have a broad variety of activities in her life, she took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. She had given up softball playing, thank goodness, too many injuries from that. She loved playing on her computer and playing darts. She didn't consider her dart game as a hobby, "I take it more seriously". At times, it was something that she used for the sole purpose of leisure. Kim had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of her favorite pastimes. However, Kim's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.

      Kim derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. Her charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, she played volleyball, and basketball (very little). She loved playing volleyball at John Battle. We had an AWESOME team! Her fondest memories were those of Coach Tommy Bryant and volleyball at Lebanon High. " We were a new team and he looked to me for guidance, because I had played for so many years. It was too funny." While attending Va Highlands Comm. College, the only thing that she participated in was the P. E. Class sheI had to take. What else but, volleyball! I am now, at the time I wrote this, soon to be 45, and still loving to play darts. Kim was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. As far as watching sports, she loved ALBAMA (Roll Tide) football, and enjoyed watching college hoops.

      Throughout her life, Kim was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Kim seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Kim usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. In high school she was a member of the Spanish Club and Athletic Club. The only organization that she had been particpating in regularly is the Greater Tri-Cities Darting Association. Kim had been the treasurer since 2001.

       I am sorry to say that I never joined any community groups. Politics, let's not EVEN go there.

      Kim was a member of Lebanon Baptist Church. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

      Though she never did anything solely for individual recognition, Kim's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness, earned her accolades for her many lifelong efforts. I have had several awards throughout my life, but the most recent was earning a Tennessee State Championship in Ladies Team Competition.

      Kim's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Kim took her vacations seriously, well, as seriously as she possibly could. Her favorite vacations: as a child and teen spending time at beaches with her dad and then her friends, and then as an adult she was fortunate enough to spend a week in beautiful Cancun. But, the one that tops them all, she spent 3 GLORIOUS weeks in Melbourn, Australia. Actually it was on the outskirts, in a place called Geelong and in the city of Lara. "It was the most beautiful place I have ever been. If I have the chance to return, I doubt seriously if I will come back to the states. The people and the place completely stole my heart."

      Kim was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. She had some great pets while she was growing up, all were dogs, she loved each one of them.

      When Kim's retirement finally came... Retire? You get to retire? COOL! Can't wait for that one., Kim handled it the way she usually did. She adapted and, like everything in her life, made it satisfying. Because she was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Kim to master. Even in retirement, Kim continued to stay in touch with her old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Kim. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Kim Castle for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Kim was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.