Kim Ann Bates

Kimberly Ann Bates (Johnson), wonderful wife, fierce, loving mother, best sister ever, rockstar aunt, beloved daughter, loyal cousin, and dedicated friend, died Sunday, November 22 from a devastating heart attack. Kim was born September 11, 1970 in Wichita, Kansas. She joined a big wonderful family. Her parents Gene Johnson and Carol Landis (Petty) brought her home to a busy household with two older siblings, Jennifer Johnson and Asa “Bob” Johnson (Julia). She grew up surrounded by an amazing posse of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents. As a young adult, the love in her family expanded by two when Gene married Barbara and Carol married Alan Landis. These unions added more brothers and sisters, Gina Campo, Steve Puleio, Carrody Buchhorn (Tim), and Jeff Landis (Lindsay). The love in her family continued to grow as marriages and the births of her cherished nieces and nephews made her circle ever wider. Kim met the love of her life, her best friend, Kenny Bates in 1989. They married in her mother’s front yard in 1990 and in 1991 they welcomed, and too suddenly lost, their precious daughter Taylor Marie Bates. Two wonderful boys followed. Austin Parker Bates in 1992 and Andrew James Bates in 2002. The years were filled with family and friends, laughter and love. A few years in Littleton, Colorado and then back to Shawnee, Kansas. Trips to Texas for family gatherings, long weekends at the cabin she so loved on Beaver Lake and the summer Girls of Beaver weekend, hunting for treasure at garage sales with her boys, the annual Lenexa Chili Cookoff where she earned a first place for her Traditional Chili in 2018. Kim loved her boys without measure, and they were the absolute center of her world. She was the very best dog mom to Jorge and Ruthie and all the ones who came before. She was simply, the best. Kim was a Registered Respiratory Therapist and spent the last two decades caring for patients and then sharing her wisdom and knack for problem solving as a Content Process Specialist for Apria Healthcare. She loved her work, and she was great at it, as is evidenced by the coworkers who loved her. Kim will be remembered with a small private family gathering in the next few weeks. In a few months when it is safe for all of us to gather together, we will have a celebration worthy of her memory. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in her name to Unleashed Pet Rescue. https://www.unleashedrescue.com/donate/ No one loves their puppies more than Kim did.

Tributes

Kim Ann Bates

September 11, 1970 - November 22, 2020