Kimbere Harrington Hendricks

Kimbere Harrington HENDRICKS Our caring, loving and beautiful mother was taken from us early Monday morning, December 27th during a tragic fire in her home. She was 49. A mother, an artist, and a dear friend, this news has shocked and saddened us all. Kim was born in Rapid City, South Dakota on April 11, 1955 to Clarise and Frank "Red" Hendricks. She graduated from Rapid City Central H. S. in 1973 where she excelled in all disciplines, primarily Art, and graduated with honors. At 18, she met and married David Monson of Duluth, Minnesota. From this union came three daughters, Tirzah Joy, Rachel Rose and Sarah Grace. The family lived in South Dakota until 1987 when Kim and the girls moved to Minnesota where Kim enrolled in the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis to study art. While raising three growing girls, Kim juggled motherhood, work and her artistic ambitions and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Fine Arts in 1989. While school taught her the fundamentals of painting, her life and experience fueled the passion and creativity which was the cornerstone of her technique. She always wanted people to feel something from her art, even if that feeling was uncomfortable. As she once put it, "I want the content of my original art to bring us closer to the actual human being - to find that part of us that words can't express." In 1989 Kim moved to Seattle to be close to her family. She worked as a manager of a picture framing gallery and, in 1995, purchased her own picture framing store. Throughout this time, Kim had dozens of art exhibitions in galleries, cafes and bars in the Seattle area. In 1997, Kim moved the shop to her house and began working from home. Ever the entrepreneur, Kim started painting murals and commissioned projects for private homes and businesses in Seattle and L.A. She also enjoyed "garage saleing" and selling her treasures on Ebay. She also taught art classes to kids and painted holiday windows during Christmas time. She was also a gifted calligrapher, seamstress, and cook. Her creativity was contagious. People were drawn to her and inspired by her. She was generous and loving and always opened her home and heart to those in need. Kim was a dog person. She treated her dogs, Quinn and Lilly, like gold, often to the dismay of her kitty, Cashie. And like the good girl Lilly was, she never left Kim's side, even during the fire which took their lives. Kim will be remembered as a selfless, beautiful and unique sparkle in the eyes of all who knew her during her abbreviated time on this earth. While we mourn our loss on earth, heaven will salute the day. Kim is preceded in death by her mother, Clarice, and father, Frank. Kim is survived by her three daughters, Tirzah (30), Rachel (29), Sarah (27), their father, David, (51), grandson Trey (4), Aunt Delores "Tots", cousin Patty, half-brother Mike and Quinn, her other loyal and rambunctious doggy who made it out unscathed. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Jan, 2nd at 3:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. (1305 17th St. SE, Auburn, 98002) This will be a celebration on Kim's life and love and art. Please visit www.salutetheday.com for memorial information and to view the work of this amazing woman. We love you mommy!