Kimberly Jo Wilson

It was a Sunday night on September 18, 1960 in the hottest month of that year that Kimberly Jo took the #1 hit song "It's Now or Never" by Elvis Presley to heart and prevented her mom from attending her own birthday celebration by coming into this world - luckily her dad decided to go to the hospital as well, instead of listening to his mother-in-law and just dropping his wife off and coming to enjoy the ravioli and party himself or this story would have ended much differently. That day forever changed the lives of Dave and Joanne, her proud parents. Although they went on to have four more daughters that brought much light into their lives; Kim's light always shown a little bit brighter - that's the right or should it be said gift of the first-born. That's our Kimmie.

She quickly became a mom to her younger sisters - Sheri, Dawn, Susan and Jen - always wanting to take care of them. When her parents brought her youngest sister home from the hospital after she was born; Kim cleaned the house and cooked dinner for everyone - she was only eight. That's our Girl.

When Jen was eight, she tore her small toes off in a bicycle accident while Kim was babysitting her sisters - most likely having them hold up on their bunk beds threatening them with the belt...why?...they had no idea because they were perfect angels! Kim picked Jen up and carried her down the street with blood pouring down her new white pants to the neighbors and got her to the emergency room in time to have her toes reattached. She was 15. That's our Burly Jo.

When the family moved to Oregon on their Great Adventure in 1981 and it turned out to be a more difficult transition for her Mom, she stepped in and made sure everyone else was cared for and doing ok, even though she was having a difficult time herself. She was 21. That's our Klamberly.

In 1985 she gave her parents and family the greatest gift of all, her first-born son, David. She selflessly shared him with everyone barely getting a chance to hold him, knowing she could have kept him to herself, but that would have robbed them of their joy. She was 25. That's our Mommy.

In 1986 she moved back to San Diego with her family - they travel in packs - and she made sure everyone was settled into their new lives and then blessed them with her second born son Daniel in 1988 and once again he was shared with all and their lives were richer for it. She was 28. That's our Kim...beautiful like a Kitty Catty Woman.

In 1992 she was so excited to give birth to a girl Desirae and it was that precious little girl and her two adorable boys that got her through that very tumultuous year as she experienced the pain of divorce. Although being a stay-at-home mom was her childhood dream - she gave it up to provide for her children. She pulled herself up by her bootstraps, put on her "big girl panties" - which were most likely hot pink and on the outside of her black bike shorts - and went to work. She was 32. That's our Trooper.

She worked her way up to be a School Bus Driver with the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and specifically chose routes so she could drive her children and nephews to and from school. Once she knew they were well cared for and moving forward on their own she chose to drive students with special needs. This required her to lift many of them in and out of the bus and deal with difficult children as well as parents. Boy did she have some stories! She got up every morning at 4am to take care of her "special kids" and then came home to care for her most special children. That's our Kirby.

In 2001 she married for the second time to Jeff Wilson - she loved her Jeffie and he loved his Kimmie. She knew he needed her and she could take care of him - that's what she did best. It made her feel at peace when caring for those she loved the most. She was 41. That's our Boss.

Over the next several years, when not driving bus or caring for her family she was busy caring for others. She was the person who did those things that most people want recognition for, but rarely want to put in the effort. Driving friends to difficult doctor appointments, cleaning their houses, making countless meals, walking families though tragedies. She never needed to ask - what can I do?...she just did it! That's our Friend.

She called her parents everyday and put their needs before her own, always looked after her sisters, even after they were married and had their own families. She was infamous amongst family and friends for her cooking. Her nephews told their Dad they were glad he married their Mom because "Auntie Kim was such a great cook!" That's our Gantie Kim.

On March 29, 2012 she experienced the greatest joy of her lifetime - becoming a Nana to Kali Skye. She embraced Kali's Daddy, Michael as one of her own son's and invited him into her home along with her precious grandbaby. She spent countless hours loving on her beautiful baby and one of their favorite things to do together was to sing the songs from the Jungle Book movie. That's our Nana.

On April 27, 2013 Kim went to the Emergency Room in extreme pain. She was first diagnosed as being pregnant - oh the look on her face! She was not amused, however her mom and middle sister thought it was hysterical - wondering if those "I didn't know I was pregnant" shows could possibly be real or if they were on "Candid Camera." If only that were true - she later learned that she had Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer - a very rare and aggressive cancer that had spread to her liver, bones and lymph nodes. That was the day her whole family's lives changed forever. Not knowing what the future held she was determined, in spite of her extreme and understandable anxiety, she moved forward with treatment. All the while worried about how everyone else was dealing with her pain. That's our Kimberly Jo.

The next year was dedicated to all things family. Matching tattoos with her sisters and mom, a dream staycation, family dinners, birthday celebrations, ghost chasing @ Hotel Del with her son Daniel, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then her last Christmas which was most special because her kids made sure she knew how loved she was by putting up her tree and decorating it just how she liked it, decking out the whole house with lights that she loved and showering her with meaningful gifts so there was no doubt about how important she was in their lives. Even though her family wanted it to be all about her, she couldn't accept that and insisted that everyone come over for her famous crème brule french toast on Christmas morning so she could give to them. That's our Kim.

By late January she received the tragic news that the cancer had advanced and there was not much more that could be done. From that point on Kim and her family spent as much time together as possible. Her dad even took an ambulance to Grossmont Hospital and got himself admitted, two rooms down, so he could spend time with Kim. She kept checking in on her Dad, asking everyone how he was doing after they had gone to visit him. She would send Jeff over to tuck him in at night – again more concerned about him than herself. That's our Daughter.

On February 16th Kim was released from the hospital and was able to come home where she so desperately wanted to be. She must have known she didn't have much time left. One night she laid in bed with her youngest sister and said "I have a proposition for you...how about I cash out my retirement and pay you to come and stay with me?" - Of course, Jen who had selflessly moved back from Los Angeles to care for Kim was more than happy to come and stay full time and wouldn't even consider taking money to do so. That's our Kim.

On what would be the last weekend of her life it became a slumber party weekend with her sisters Dawn and Jen. Eating Big Macs in bed (it's a little known fact that Big Macs can fix anything), 4am Coffee Talk with Jeffie, deep conversations, prayers and silent moments just holding hands. When she would become overwhelmed and not know what else to do or say she would give "a look" and say - "well, hee haw bitches!" and then just laugh like only sisters could. She wanted everyone to know how very much she loved them and told them every chance she got. She asked her sisters to forgive her for when she used to threaten them with the belt and when they laughed at her, she told them she was serious! She wanted to ensure her children would be taken care of, her Kali would not forget about her and asked her sisters to take care of her mom and dad (even though she didn't really trust them to do an adequate job...that was her job!). She didn't want to leave anything undone. That's our Sister.

On the last day of her life Monday, February 24 she was surrounded by all the people she loved most and although she could not communicated much, she was still telling everyone how much she loved them and comforting them with her touch. She called out to her Mommy and Daddy, spent time with each of her precious children, loving sisters and Jeffie. She was at peace for the first time since this journey began and then she took her final breath and entered into the arms of Jesus. That's our Angel.