Kimberlee Bush Plier

Kim was born in 1971 to Harold and Paulette Bush, raised along with her older brother, Scott. She grew up in Alabaster, Alabama and attended Thompson High School. She went on to study at Samford, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University. Early on, she showed off her strong spirit of independence and adventure, according to her father, turning reprimands into occasional new cars.

She was a beloved special education teacher at Waddell Elementary in Columbus. The job was challenging but she loved her students dearly and made some incredible friends. Whether it be by creating a teachers lounge charcuterie board or picking up a Halloween costume for a student, she always went out of her way to help “her kids” and coworkers.

Kim was preparing to celebrate her first anniversary with her love, Eric. They were high school sweethearts who went their separate ways for college but found each other again later when the time was right. They were avid travelers and adventurous eaters together. They spent their honeymoon in Puerto Rico, hiking through the jungle to waterfalls and eating mofongo. They brought each other so much joy.

Her truest passion was her children; Katherine, Will, and Luke Taylor. She would always say, fully believing it to be true, that she was so lucky to have the best three kids in the world. While raising them, she was known as a brilliant and elaborate party planner, a dedicated scoutmaster, a homeschool teacher, a theater booster, a football and wrestling mom, and a cheerleader in all things. She was extraordinarily proud of the adults they have become.

She loved her church family at Chattahoochee Valley Church of Christ, where she was a dedicated volunteer and worked in children’s ministry for many years.

She was a friend and extra mom to so many. She was fiery, loyal, protective and beautifully impatient.

She is survived by her husband, Eric, children Katherine, Will, and Luke, parents Harold and Paulette, brother, Scott, sister-in-law, Rebecca, niece and nephew Shelby and Andrew, countless friends, and her sweet puppy Leo. We will miss her in all aspects, but we all recognize how extraordinarily blessed we are to have had the chance to love and be loved by her.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, July 14, 2023 at Chattahoochee Valley Church of Christ, 122 Bascom Ct., Columbus, GA 31909.

In lieu of flowers, we will be accepting school supply donations supporting Kim’s former students and teachers at Waddell Elementary. Donations can be dropped off at Chattahoochee Valley Church or purchased through our Amazon Wishlist.