Obituary of Kimberlee Rae Walker

Our beloved mother, Ma, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Kimberlee Rae Walker, 63, of Caldwell, ID, passed away on 20 January 2024 after a brief battle with cancer.

Kim was born at Mercy Hospital in Nampa, ID on 23 August 1960 to Blaine Harper and Gayle Ruzicka (nee Clark). Kim was the oldest of what would ultimately become a family of 15 children and she took her role as big sister very seriously. Eternally loyal, wickedly fun, and unfailingly generous, Kim was not only the ultimate big sister to her 14 siblings, but also to any stray friends or strangers she adopted along the way.

Kim is the mother of four children—Jilliann, Jade, Dustin, and Jenifer, and three stepsons, Dan, Scott, and Terry. If you asked her kids to describe her, some of the things you would hear are independent, magical, hardworking, passionate, willing to grow, saucy, generous, a terrible taste in sports teams (according to Dustin), always there when you needed her, and a best friend. But none was more special than calling her ‘Mom.’

Kim was known by many names in her life—Kimberlee, Kim, Kimmy, Kimber, Hazel, Mom, Sissy—but none she loved so well as grandma, affectionately shortened to Ma, the name she was called by her grandchildren. Whether going for a spa day, having sleepovers with the grandkids at her house, spending the weekend at the Home2 Suites in Boise, volunteering in a classroom, cheering from the stands at a game or FFA competition, or engaging in yet another heated debate about the merits of certain feline friends (cats are bad!), Ma’s door and heart were always open. No one was more important to Ma than her littles and they all loved her to the moon and back.

Kim lived life to the fullest. She loved going to concerts and the theater, traveling, supporting local artists, businesses, and community events, checking out new and well-loved restaurants, and spending time with family. Kim had a huge and generous heart and always gave freely (and quietly) to those she saw in need. Whether it was a stranger on the street, a giving tree during the holidays, a school fundraiser, an international charity, or just a person in her orbit she knew could use a little help, Kim never passed up an opportunity to give.

Kim had an incredible work ethic and worked her entire career for Circle J Trailers (later known as Big Tex). She made many dear friends over her years with the company and only recently retired in the fall of 2023.

Kim is survived by her husband Carl; children Jill (Chad) Greer (grandchildren Adyson, Harper (Birdly), Joviann, and Isla), Jade Walker, Dustin Walker, and Jenifer Walker; Stepsons Dan Walker (grandchildren Austin and Hunter), Scott (April) Walker (grandchildren Lyric, Dawson, and Ryen), and Terry (Lily) Walker (Grandchildren Dillon, Ian, and Abigail); mother and stepfather Gayle and Don Ruzicka; stepmother Helen Scrivner Cornell Harper; siblings Darryl Ruzicka, Jami Seibel, Darryn Ruzicka, Kellin (Brian) Light, Barney (Melanie) Harper, Cindy (Doug) Winfield, Otis (Glen) Leach, Kayce (Troy) Hofheins, Kendra (Richard) Stone, Kodie Ruzicka, Jordan (Veronica) Ruzicka, and Kathryn Ruzicka.

Kim was preceded in death by her father Blaine Harper, stepmother Beverly Stutchbery Harper, grandson Brandon Walker, brother Joshua Ruzicka, and brother Jeffrey (Kathy) Harper.

Services will be held on 31 January 2024 at 12:00 pm in the Flahiff Funeral Chapel at 624 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell, ID 83605 with a public viewing prior to the service from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, and

Internment immediately following the service at Canyon Hill Cemetery, 2024 N. Illinois Ave., Caldwell, ID 83605. Family and friends are invited to attend a catered celebration of life at 2:30 pm at the Pleasant Ridge Grange, 18514 Upper Pleasant Ridge Road, Caldwell, ID 83607. Please RSVP for the celebration of life at bharper11@msn.com.