Lucille Kimmer Maris departed this life in Batesville on Friday, September 9, 2022, at the age of 99. She was born in Batesville on February 15, 1923, the only child of Parker Johnson and Vivian Wheeler Johnson.
Lucille grew up in Batesville and graduated as Valedictorian from Batesville High School in May of 1941. During her high school years, she was an accomplished drum majorette and won several high honors and enjoyed wide recognition along with the top-rated Batesville High School Band in the 1940s.
In June 1942, Miss Lucille Johnson, married Mr. Freese Kimmer on June 19, 1942. The couple made their home in Seattle, Washington, until the end of World War II when they returned home to Batesville. Together they built their home, worked, raised their son, and were active members of the First United Methodist Church.
Lucille worked as the personnel manager at the International Shoe Factory from 1946 until her retirement in 1986. She felt that the people she worked with were family.
Lucille enjoyed square dancing, cooking, traveling, sewing and cross stitching. Lucille was a member of the V.F.W. Post 4683 Ladies Auxiliary.
She belonged to the First United Church and held memberships in both Batesville and Newport.
Lucille’s greatest joy and love was her family.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husbands, Irvin Freese Kimmer, Sr., on October 18, 1976, and Jesse Dale Maris on February 27, 1995; her son, Irvin Freese Kimmer, Jr., on February 15, 2020, and loving companion Don Vanston on November 25, 2014.
She is survived by one daughter-in-law, Janine Waldrip Kimmer of Little Rock; two grandchildren, Renee Pearson and husband, Rob, of Little Rock, Will Kimmer and wife, Emily, of Milan, Tennessee; two great-grandchildren, C.J. Pearson and Ben Kimmer; one stepson, Rhett Maris and wife, Jan, of Newport; one step-granddaughter, Jessica Hubbard and husband, Jonathan, of Carrollton, Texas; step-great-grandchildren, Samuel and Xavier Hubbard; and a lifetime of work family and friends.
Friends may visit Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Batesville with services to follow at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Katie Pearce presiding. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery at Batesville.
Memorials may be made to the Batesville First United Methodist Church, 615 East Main Street, Batesville, Arkansas, 72501 or fumcbatesville.org or Woodlawn Nursing Home, 2901 Neeley St., Batesville, Arkansas 72501.
