Thomas Kimble
Ivins, Utah - Mr. Thomas "Gary" Kimble, 85 years old, passed away on Friday May 19, 2023, in St. George, Utah. He resided in the Southern Utah Veterans Home since November 2018. Born in Silver City, New Mexico June 12, 1937, to Thomas William Kimble and Mary Catherine Moyer. He was married to Alta Lee Goforth McCain- celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary in February of this year.
Gary attended High School in Miami, Arizona but moved and graduated from Silver City, NM in 1955. He continued his education at the University of New Mexico and graduated from Arizona State University with a Mining Engineering degree in 1959. He served in the United States Army from 1960-1966 and was stationed in El Paso, Texas.
Gary had the foresight to enter the oil business at the bottom and worked his way up. Working in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and California. He then ventured overseas in with Arabian American Oil Company, ARAMCO. As a Project Manager he worked on pipeline projects and was instrumental in the development of the community of Tanajib, a gas plant located on the Eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. After 13 years with ARAMCO he returned to the US only to be hired by Fluor Daniel Inc. and sent to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Located on the western coast, he directed the construction of a teaching hospital for the King Abdulaziz University.
Gary continued to work for Fluor Daniel Inc. in locations of South Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Costa Rico, Colorado and Indiana, finally retiring in 2003 to their home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Building an equine business buying, breeding and selling he and Alta had thirty horses over the years. He loved snow skiing and hunting and serving as an Elder in his church Grace in Pagosa.
Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2008, Gary and Alta relocated to Mesquite, Nevada for medical reasons in 2015 selling their Colorado home of 40 years. After a hospital stay in 2018, he entered the Southern Utah Veterans Home. Gary maintained such a positive attitude striving to add humor into the day. He always thanked and appreciated those who helped him. He is remembered fondly by many.
Gary had four children, three daughters and a son. He is survived by his wife, Alta Lee Kimble; daughters: Leslee Vause of Ivins, UT and Anja Potter (Steve Potter) of Edgewater, FL; his sisters: Greta Oberg of Silver City, NM and Francil Fiess (Berry Fiess) of Orlando, FL; fifteen grandchildren; and fourteen great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will take place in Colorado at a later date.