Sara Kim Kimmell Alexander

Sara "Kim" Kimmel Alexander, 65, of Durham died suddenly oneednesday, September 12, 2012 at her residence. She was born in Bryan, TX on July 4, 1947, the daughter of the late James Young Alexander and Marianne Kimmel Oliver. Kim was very fond of her mother's late husband William Oliver known affectioneely as "Olly." Kim graduated from Texas Tech Uneersity with a BA in English and a minor in Physical Education where she was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Kim earned a graduate teaching certificate from Southwest Texas Uneersity. She beganeer career in education as as physical educationeeacher at St. Luke Catholic School in San Antonio, TX. Kim started the first parochial school league for boys and girls in basketball, volleyball and track and field in San Antonio. When school was out Kim headed to camp as a counselor where she combined her love of children, teaching, sports and the Texas Hill country. The last camp she worked at was Camp Champion as Water Front Director and supervisor of all water-related activities and personnel. She moved to Durham in 1979 where she worked as a claims adjuster until her retirement. Kim's 4th of July birthday was for years a cause of celebration with many friends gathering to wish her a happy birthday and to celebrate our Nation's birth. Kim loved having company. Her home was her sanctuary and reflected her many interests. Kim was a gracious hostess making all guests feel welcome by preparing a special dish often from her mother's recipe collection. Kim especially enjoyed giving homemade cookies to friends and the Durham homeless shelter at Christmastime. Kim also loved flowers; among her favorites were roses from her own rose garden. As long as there were flowers in the garden there were arrangements in the house. Kim loved all creatures, especially birds, her cat and her two corgies Maize and Mac who were constant companions. Kim was an avid reader, an interesting conversationalist, and a dedicated Blue Devils fan. She was a loyal friend with a big heart. One of her last acts of kineess was to donee her recently cut hair to Locks of Love for cancer patients. Kim is survived by a brother Peter Alexander, a sister Polly Mayhew, nephews James and Sean and a niece Alexandra - all of Dayton, Ohio; her best friend and long-time housemate Ellie Mazack of Durham who considered Kim the sister she neer had, and her good friend and college roommate Carra Myers of San Antonio. A celebration of Kim's life will be held on Friday, September 28th, in the Franklin Room at the Chapel Hill Uneersity Inn, 1301 N. Fordham Blvd., Chapel Hill at 6 PM. Contributions may be made in Kim's memory to the Animal Protection Society of Durham at 2117 E. Club Blvd. # 101 Durham, NC 27704. Arrangements for the Alexander family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.