Kim Lan Nette Sarlls' Obituary
A Tribute to Kim Sarlls
July 7, 1964 –September 8, 2014
Kim LanNette Sarlls was born July 7, 1964 in Lawrence, KS to Wilber and Linda Sarlls. She was diagnosed at a very early age with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). Kim was very bright and had beautiful fiery red hair. From the beginning, everything about Kim was bright….her shiny personality was what made everyone fall in love with her.
Younger sister Karen Kay was born May 28, 1968. Kim’s arthritis had begun to take its toll on her little body. So, when Kim was 5 years old, her Dad packed up his three girls and moved from the little town of Eudora, KS to the big city of Tucson, AZ. They had high hopes of improving Kim’s health. The Arizona sun was much kinder for Kim than those bitter KS winters.
In 1971, Wayne was born and the family was complete. Actually, a dog was added to the family which began Kim’s love of dogs. Kim enjoyed the love and companionship of little dogs all her life. They were her children.
As the arthritis flared and eased, she would be on crutches some and then off. Later, it was in a wheelchair some and back to crutches. But Kim was always struggling to improve her mobility and independence. She was not a whiner. She endured the disease, the doctors, the hospitals, the endless therapy. But that hateful disease and the very strong drugs to combat it continued to steal her freedom to run and play like other children. We nearly lost Kim several times but she NEVER gave up.
Kim had an undauntable spirit! When she decided to become a counselor to help others deal with their issues, nothing could stop her. It took Kim 10 years to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from U of A in Tucson, AZ . With her eye on a doctorate, she spent another four years attaining her Masters from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, TX. Due to her declining health she worked only a few years as a counselor in Texas and Arizona. Working in Paige, she bought herself a nice home. Kim was with a loving man for sixteen years. Kim suffered more than her share of losses, one of the worst was her sister, Karen, in 2001.
Kim was SO loved in her life! She was always closest to her mother, who was her faithful supporter and confidant. Kim enjoyed a sweet bond with her very supportive Dad, sister and brother, too. The extended family adored her, as well. Her Grandpa and Grandma Kelley moved to AZ to help with her early years. Family and friends from her childhood in Eudora prayed for Kim all her life. She just had SO much courage, hope and strength….the important kind. Kim was fiercely independent. And, oh my, that cute sense of humor…..she could find a way to laugh at her own limitations. Kim was, and always will be, unforgettable! Kim’s beloved Jackie-O and Jasmine will be making this final voyage with her. Though she lived in the desert, she loved the idea of the ocean. If there is a beach in heaven, Kim and her little dogs are skipping on it now.
What’s your fondest memory of Kim?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kim?
Share a story where Kim's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kim you’ll never forget.
How did Kim make you smile?
