The family requests that everyone please wear masks to promote safety.

Kim Wright Meade, age 67, of Paintsville, Kentucky, passed away Friday, November 19, 2021 at Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center.

Kim was born January 8, 1955 in Dayton Ohio, daughter of the late Richard "Dick" Wright and Alice Castle Riley. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Richard S. Wright.

She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Philip L. Meade, brothers-in-law Don (Kathy) and David (Sharon) Meade, nieces Anna(Engard), Leslie Meade, Olivia (Flint), and nephews Matthew and Daniel Meade.

After graduating from Beaver Creek High School near Dayton Ohio, Kim worked her way through college at Eastern Kentucky University, earning a degree in Early Childhood Education and becoming the first college graduate in her extended family. In the late 1970's she worked with kids at 1 st Presbyterian Church and Sayre School, then helped pioneer the establishment of child care programs at St. Joseph Hospital and Trinity Hill Methodist Church in Lexington.

Although Kim was born and raised in Ohio, she was destined to return to her family roots in Johnson County. Kim's mother(Alice Castle Wright) was raised in the coal camps of Thealkaand David along with 10 other Castle brothers and sisters. Fate brought Phil and Kim together as college students at EKU. After 5 years of dating, she proposed that marriage was a good idea and he agreed. After their marriage in 1980, Phil had a careeropportunity as a coal mine engineer to move to Paintsville, where he was a 5 th generation Johnson Countian. Once established here in 1994, she organized and ran an after school program for kids at the First Methodist Church, where she and Phil worshipped. In Paintsville they found community and a comfortable and happy home for the rest of her days.

Kim became a champion of cancer survivors and of cancer prevention after overcoming life threatening breast and brain cancer between the ages of 26 -30, having five major surgeries in her first five years of marriage. She was a tireless friend and resource to many who would later face similar challenges. Her own survival was considered miraculous by the Markey Cancer Center at UK. She was restored to health and enjoyed all the seasons of a full life with family, friends, Phil and her church community. The deep stress of past chemo, surgery, radiation brought aging and disability to her life prematurely. Kim met these sufferings with the unflagging support of her husband and her deepening Christian faith. She became a light and uplift for all she met, transcending her challenges and never giving over to bitterness, despair or defeat. Her wry humor could send the room into huge laughter. She loved the music of her generation and enjoyed dancing and celebrating for as long as her body would allow – and then some (with Philip's help)!

Kim passed peacefully in the embrace of her husband, quietly leaving behind memories from a life filled with faith and love.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at First United Methodist Church with Tyler Brumfield officiating. Friends may visit the First United Methodist Church from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to First United Methodist Building Fund by:

Mail:

First United Methodist Church

c/o Kim Meade

505 Main St.

Paintsville, KY 41240

Or

calling Jones-Preston Funeral Home at 606-789-3501.

Jones-Preston Funeral Home is both Honored and Privileged to be Entrusted with all funeral arrangements for Mrs. Kim Wright Meade.