Kim was born September 12, 1983, Austin, TX. She made our Scott a brother. Kim loved Scott fiercely and re-named him ‘Bubs’ when she first talked. Kim’s childhood was filled by playing, drawing, having happy times with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, classmates and soccer, volleyball and basketball teammates, coaches, band directors and mentors. And Kim loved bunnies, dogs Bevo, Stella and Prue and all of God’s Creation. Kim made a ‘joyful noise’ everywhere she was, whether at home, in the neighborhood, at school, in sports or in church where she sang in cherub choir, served as acolyte and participated in youth activities. Kim’s theme song as a child was ‘I can do ANYTHING’ from Reading Rainbow and she carried that determination for all her days. Kim was courageous, strong and fearless. Kim embraced life with their creative energy, beauty and love above all. Kim gave the BEST hugs.
Kim’s drawing talent came naturally. She/they used this talent for cards, murals, t-shirt designs, camp/church publications and a cartoon strip she produced for four years (7th-10th grades) for the youth page of the Austin American-Statesman. Her drawings, designs and cartoons were funny, insightful and original. Kim’s quick wit and playful sense of humor was another part of their spirited self.
Kim’s life was filled with music. She played trombone, euphonium, guitar and more. In addition to school bands and ensembles, she was part of our church and church camp music ministries as well as Tuba Christmas at the state capitol. Kim played in jazz band at Austin High as well as a ska band. Kim was in honors and marching band for AHS all four years. Kim was drum major for the Maroon Marching Band for her junior and senior years. Kim made, All-City, All-District and All-Region bands, competing at the Area level throughout high school. Kim was an excellent student, receiving AISD Trustee awards and graduating in the top 10% of her class. Kim played varsity soccer for Austin High. Kim was also passionate about PALS: Peer Assistance Leadership Service. For her junior year Kim organized a Valentine’s dance for a retirement community, enlisting AHS band members and friends to participate. Service to others is a hallmark of Kim’s life.
Kim was baptized October 9, 1988 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and immediately became an active member of the youth. Church camp became central to Kim’s faith formation through Cross Trails Ministry. High Adventure trips through Shepherd of the Hills to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Colorado and the Boundary Waters in Minnesota were summer highlights. Kim served as camp counselor, in music ministry, programming, horse wrangling and more for Camp Chrysalis and Ebert Ranch in central Texas. During college Kim also worked at Rainbow Trail as a backpack guide. Kim received recognition and a scholarship as the Outstanding Senior High Youth, Southwestern Texas Synod, ELCA. Kim’s faith in the power of Love was a guiding star for her.
Kim joined Cobber life at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN in the fall of 2002 and graduated the spring of 2006. In her time there Kim made more friends for life. Kim played trombone for one concert season in jazz band, then played guitar faithfully for Tabernacle, an informal Thursday evening worship gathering. Kim adored Concordia’s service trips and justice journeys each semester, worked as an RA and volunteered in local churches’ after school music programs. One of the highlights of Kim’s undergrad career was her Urban Studies semester in Chicago.
Kim’s post undergrad career began with Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Oakland, CA where she worked in a challenging juvenile detention center. Her love of the outdoors took her from west to east coasts, to the Catskill Mountains area in New York. Kim worked for a year in a nature and historical center near the Ashokan reservoir. Kim learned blacksmithing skills, tapping of maple trees, working as a docent/guide around the historic farm primarily for school tours for students from NYC. Kim kept in touch with folks she lived/worked with and had a 15 year reunion just this past March. Serving with VISTA for two years, first as a volunteer, then as a leader, was their next gig, first in Lewisburg, West Virginia, then in Brooklyn, NY. Kim supplemented their VISTA stipend most notably with the Ali Forney Center which is “committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ+ young people” primarily by protecting them “from the harms of homelessness and empowering them to live independently.” In 2009 a small group of compassionate folks in Central Texas, including Kim, gathered to begin the Spirit Pride Project, an annual camping safe space for LGBTQ+ youth, young adults and the youth of LGBTQ+ families. Kim’s dedication to SPP was tireless and one friend and co-founder of SPP called Kim ‘the engine’ behind SPP. Kim’s most recent retreat weekend for SPP was June 23-25, 2023.
Kim’s employment was eclectic, compelling her to focus on grad school at Hunter College, NYC, graduating with a Master’s in Social Work in 2013 and eventually leading them to their calling as a licensed social worker, clinical supervisor and therapist for clients in Washington State. Kim’s life in Washington began as a volunteer for Camp Ten Trees. KJ was in their element, serving LGBTQIA+ kids and families in a camp setting. Kim applied to work with Youth Eastside Services in Bellevue, WA, received an offer and moved to Seattle with her dog, Stella in late October, 2016. KJ served between 300 and 400 people over nearly seven years in their employment with YES and Zane Counseling with dedication and great care of their clients.
Kim/KJ/Cedar is survived by practically perfect pup Prue, partner Frankie, loving parents Dee and Robert, brother Scott and his children Cora (19), Daphne (15) and Ronan (11), maternal grandmother ‘Amma’, cousins, aunts, uncles in several states, as well as myriad beloved friends, clients and colleagues from coast to coast.
A service to remember Kim’s life will be held, Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11 AM CDT at Shepherd of the Hills, 3525 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX, with reception to follow at the church. The service will also be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKIVh88uOdI. Come as your ‘really self’, remembering Kim/KJ/Cedar. All are welcome and included in love. Interment of ashes will be private.
To memorialize Kim’s passion for service, especially through the joy of camps and the outdoors, the family has established the Kim KJ Cedar Jackson Endowment Fund through the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest. Annual distributions from the endowment will provide funding to Lutherhill Ministries, Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp and Spirit Pride Project.
Checks may be made payable to Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, noting Kim Jackson Endowment Fund on the memo line and mailed to the foundation at the address below: Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, 103 12th St., Suite 201, Pflugerville, TX 78660. For information on making a gift through ACH Transfer or your bank’s bill pay service, contact Deacon John Dellis at 830.305.2758 or [email protected]. Additionally, CampOUT Florida is establishing the “Cedar Scholarship” to cover recipients’ camp expenses and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church welcomes gifts for the church youth ministry in Kim’s memory. Kim’s family is deeply grateful for all of the love expressed for Kim.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the Jackson family.
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