Onita Lee BRANDS KIMES

James Nathan
Aug 22, 1921 - Oct 19, 1995
Onita Lee
Aug 13, 1923 - May 27, 2012
Marriage Date: 5 Jan 1945
Marriage Place: Harvard, Neb
Parents:John Brands
Eugenia Ramick Brands

*Obituary
arkansasonline.com

Onita Lee Brands Kimes passed away peacefully Sunday, May 27, 2012, in the loving care of Crestpark Retirement Center in Stuttgart, Ark., where she had spent most of the last year of her life. She was 88. Onita was an outgoing and friendly woman who loved deeply. She possessed an amazing memory and sharp mind up to her final days. Most of her life was spent primarily as a homemaker. She loved cooking, music, sports, painting, crafts and spending time with friends and family. She was born Aug. 13, 1923, in Ulm, Ark., the eldest daughter of John and Eugenia Ramick Brands. Her fond memories and lifelong friends of Ulm's close knit community remained with her throughout her life. Her last years of reconnecting with those friends brought her great joy. She was a graduate of Ulm High School and regarded as a star athlete, having helped her Ulm Pirates basketball team win two girls' state championships, a fond memory she cherished until her dying day. During World War II, she worked at the War Price and Rationing Board in Stuttgart. She met James ‘Jinx' Kimes, a member of the Army Air Corp who was stationed at the Stuttgart Army Air Field. They married in Harvard, Neb., on Jan. 5, 1945. As a military wife, she endured her husband's lengthy overseas deployment during two major wars and over 22 years of service. During this time she lived in Nebraska, Florida and New Jersey. The family later moved to Blytheville, Ark., before settling in West Helena, where she lived for 40 years. She spent the last six years of her life in Stuttgart, where she joined Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, The Arts Guild, and a breast cancer survivor group, Breast Friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Jinx, of more than 50 years, and her sister Betty Oliphant of Stuttgart. Left to cherish her memory are numerous relatives and friends, including son Nat Kimes and his wife Rita of North Little Rock; son Steve Kimes and his wife Donna of Stuttgart; grandson Scout Kimes, great-grandson Dillon and great-granddaughter Bailey of Little Rock; her beloved sister Liz Brands Ashcraft of Memphis, Tenn.; sister-in-law Bess Kimes of Little Rock; brother-in-law Rhett Oliphant of Stuttgart; nieces Kim Oliver and husband Tommy of Stuttgart, Kandy Gray and husband Kenny of Roe, Amy Barron and husband Ricky of Memphis and Jamie Trisler and husband Jerry of Gonzales, La. Onita cherished her extended family and knew each great-niece and nephew and great-great-niece and nephew by name. A celebration of her life will be held Wednesday, May 30 at 2 p.m. at Turpin Funeral Home in Stuttgart, officiated by family friend Rev. Daniel Schieffler of St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Little Rock. Visitation will be held one hour before the service. The family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the love and support of friends and health care professionals especially Dr. Nobel Daniel, Baptist Health of Stuttgart, and the caring and attentive staff of Crestpark for providing healing when possible and comfort at all times. Memorial contributions may be made to any worthwhile cause in Stuttgart or Helena or those pertaining to cancer research. Please go to www.turpin-co.com to sign the online guestbook.

Published May 29, 2012

OBITUARY SUBMITTED BY:
Turpin Funeral Home, Inc.
1107 W. 22nd St., Stuttgart, AR
Phone: 870-673-1502
http://www.turpinco.com

Photo courtesy of;
Annette Shaw

Contributed on 9/11/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1338689

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