Kimberly Ann Goree Buce

Kimberly Ann Goree Buce passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2026. She was born on December 26, 1964 in Seymour, Indiana to Ellis Gene and Patricia Allen Goree. She met her husband, Bill, at the University of Montevallo, and they married August 8, 1987.

Kimberly received her bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Montevallo and her Masters Degree Education from Jacksonville State University. She received a specialist degree and was working on her PhD from Auburn University. She was a talented special education teacher who loved her students and celebrated their successes. She taught elementary, middle, and high school special education in both Alabama and Georgia, finally retiring from Fort Middle School in Columbus, Georgia.

Kimberly’s greatest joy was her family. She was devoted to their care, supportive of their endeavors, and proud of their accomplishments. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Opelika.

Kimberly was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis Gene and Patricia Allen Goree. Kimberly is survived by her husband of nearly 40 years, Bill Buce; her daughter Lindsay Buce; her niece and “daughter” Autumn (Justin) Robertson; her sister, Leigh (Sheldon) Smith; her brother-in-law Joey (Cathy) Buce; sister-in-law, Letha (Bruce) Hughes; her cousin and “aunt” Angeline Fancher; her aunt Mary Goree; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026 in the chapel at First Baptist Church of Opelika, Alabama with visitation at 9:30 a.m. The graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Shelby Memory Gardens in Calera, Alabama. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The American Kidney Fund at kidneyfund.org to help with a cure for kidney disease and to help renal patients with medical expenses and transport to dialysis.