Kimberlyn “Kim” Renae Kelley (Covey) Perrin, 64, passed away in a Plano hospital on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Kim was born on May 23, 1959, in Ft. Worth, TX to Milton Ray Kelley and Pat Wafford Kelley. She graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1977 in the top ten of her class. She went on to graduate from the University of North Texas in 1989 with honors. On January 11, 1982, she married Tom Covey, and they later adopted Mary Faith and Matthew. Kim spent her entire career as an educator and an early childhood education advocate, teaching in public and private schools (including Covey’s Creative Preschools) for 30 years. She served on the board of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children and was instrumental in the building of the inclusive and developmentally appropriate outdoor learning environments at Williams Memorial UMC, Galvan Elementary school in Corpus Christi, TX and First UMC Texarkana, AR.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, Kim became actively involved with the Texarkana Susan G. Komen race for the Cure and was passionate about educating the community regarding the vital importance of early detection. She also loved volunteering at the Gallery on Main after she moved back to Mount Vernon.
Kim considered her children her greatest accomplishment. One of her biggest joys was becoming a Gigi, and she cherished her grandchildren. Just last year, she was blessed to marry her husband, Jack Perrin, who added joy to her final months and was a faithful caregiver.
Kim was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom Covey; her grandparents, and a number of aunts and uncles. She is survived by her husband Jack Perrin; her children, Mary Faith Swimmer (Zach) and Matthew (Alicia); her beloved grandchildren, Braxton Swimmer and Emilia Covey; siblings, Kyle (Nancy) Kelley, Tull (Julia) Florey, and Anna Florey; brother-in-law, Jim Covey; Mom, Beverly Kelley; mother-in-law Joyce Covey; her niece and nephew, who she loved as her own, Heather Kelley and Patrick (Melissa) Kelley and Heather’s children Bo and Kado; nephews Tully, Trent and Liam Florey; one uncle, Bo Wafford, and a number of cousins, extended family, and friends.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 4th at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, Texas at 1 p.m. with a celebration of Kim’s life following at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gallery on Main in Mount Vernon, 1st Choice Pregnancy Resource Center in Texarkana, or to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Services entrusted to Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home.
