Kara Kim Baumgardner

Kara Kim Baumgardner passed away peacefully at the age of 66 on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at Atrium Hospital in Charlotte. Kim was a blessing to her parents, to her sisters, and to everyone who knew her. Her developmental disability, which may have stemmed from an asthma attack when she was an infant, preserved in Kim throughout her life a childlike innocence from which others learned lessons that only she could teach.

For the first 54 years of her life, Kim was deeply loved and cared for in the Derita home of her parents, Clayton and Hazel Baumgardner; and when they passed, Kim’s sister, Jo and her husband Dennis became her guardians. Jo and Dennis incorporated Kim into their family’s holidays, meals, and traditions, while the caretakers at Kim’s group home and daycare gave her places to enjoy interacting with others. Kim often expressed a strong desire to make gifts for her family and caretakers and would spend hours creating hooking crafts or coloring velvet posters for them.

As a child, Kim’s athletic tendencies showed up in bike riding, softball, badminton, and swimming that led to the Special Olympics. She delighted in animals, especially dolphins and the horses she learned to ride.

It was a joy to watch Kim’s reactions to music. She was an enthusiastic country music fan but also enjoyed listening to Big Band and even opera, and she often seemed at her happiest when family celebrations called for singing and dancing.

At Plaza Presbyterian Church under the pastorship of Tom Tate, Kim loved singing hymns and talking with members of the congregation, who welcomed her warmly and with whom she especially enjoyed a good laugh. Her face would light up when she heard Bible stories, especially ones about Jesus.

Kim liked to be busy and welcomed work. Unlike many of us, she actually liked housecleaning as well as yard work, and she relished being given the chance to help with either. As her parents aged, she was able to help them physically in these and many other ways that brightened their lives.

Kim’s beautiful smile and her gentle and forgiving soul warmed the heart of anyone who knew her. She is survived by her sister Jo Evans (Dennis) of Charlotte; sister Terrie Baumgardner of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; three nephews Joshua and Jeremy Evans (Jenna) of Charlotte and Ian MacLellan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; two great nephews Walker Evans of Charlotte and Clayton MacLellan of Pittsburgh, and two great nieces Julia and Scarlett MacLellan of Pittsburgh.