Kimmy Kay Gamble

1966 - 2026

Kimmy Kay Gamble, 59, of Riverton, Wyoming, and most recently Federal Way, Washington, took her final bow after a brief 4 month battle with gastric cancer. Born on June 10, 1966, in Mountain View California, Kimmy's early chapters unfolded across Wyoming-in Sinclair, Torrington, Cora, and Riverton-where she became the musical, beautiful, and thoughtful soul we all came to love.

A proud 1984 graduate of Riverton High School, Kimmy was destined for the stage and loved music and acting more than anything. This natural ability led her to the University of Wyoming, where she earned her bachelor's degree in theatre in the early 1990s. She loved her time at UW so wholeheartedly she would take the same theatre classes three times over just so she could keep creating. She participated in summer theater for a number of seasons turning those years into a shared adventure of creativity, laughter, and late-night storytelling. Kimmy wasn't simply a theatre major but a theatre fanatic, who forced most people she knew to watch or listen to the "classics" with her, including pieces like Rent, Dirty Dancing, The Sound of Music, and any song by Elton John or Paul Simon.

After college, Kimmy moved to Denver, where she immersed herself in regional theatre and supported her artistic dreams through waitressing. There she embraced the spotlight and told stories through theatre and restaurant small talk. From Denver she ventured to New York to pursue acting in the big apple, and continued to support herself and share her light through waitressing. In the unfamiliar east coast city, Kimmy flourished into an amazing grown woman with the help of new and old friends.

Eventually, she returned to Riverton to welcome her son into the world and to pursue another way to share her gifts with others: nursing. She quickly earned her nursing degree and discovered a new passion - helping others remain well enough to tell their own stories. Six years after her son was born, when her niece Annaliese arrived, Kimmy moved with her son to Federal Way, where she continued to build a joyful life and prioritize being near family. She became known for her quick wit, signature top-knot hairstyle, love of black clothing, and an empathy that many described as unmatched.

Kimmy spent the rest of her lifetime working in a multitude of nursing positions and meeting other caring people along the way. She continued to care for her son, Nicholas, and cherished time with him as she watched him try every sport in the book, graduate high school, and start exploring his own creative path at college. While in Washington she lived near her sister, Liesl, and her family, and cared for Liesl's daughter Annaliese as she did her own child. To her family, she was recognized for being hilarious, a bit loud at times, and infectious to be around.

Towards the end of her life, Kimmy faced her illness with courage and humor, never stopping her jokes with the care teams who quickly grew to love her. Some of her final moments were spent talking about favorite roles she performed, reading heartfelt messages from friends, and visiting with coworkers who had become family. Her friend James captured our shared grief beautifully when he wrote, "a bright light has left our stage, but will shine on in our hearts and memories." And because Kimmy believed every aspect of life should include some fun, it feels fitting to borrow the words from Billy Joel that echoed her outlook on life, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints - the sinners are much more fun. Only the good die young."

Kimmy is survived by her son, Nicholas Gamble; her mother, Mathilde Gamble; and her sisters, Kelly (Kevin) Kershisnik, Liesl (Jeff Scott) Gamble, and her niece Annaliese along with several cousins. She loved them fiercely, and they were the center of her world.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 11th in Federal Way, Washington, where family and friends will gather to honor her remarkable journey and the light she brought into the world.