Kimberly L. Yates

Kimberly L. Yates, 49, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away April 14, 2021.

A celebration of life is planned Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Life Church Overland Park (9800 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS 66221) ( Capacity is not limited at the service, but wearing a mask is required ) followed by a visitation and lunch at Fiorella's Event Center (9000 W. 137th St., Overland Park, KS 66221). A celebration of life will also be held in Cincinnati in June. Kim will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, attended by Pallbearers Julie Baar Dehner, Amy Groebl LaHue, Susan Henderson Dustin, Kim Kerr Fette, Amy Burgess Schmidt, and Cynthia Holdren Simpson.

Kim was made of brilliant, woven layers -- beauty and strength, excellence and energy, elegance and warmth, strategy and spontaneity, passion and peace. Her family cherishes the loving wife, devoted mother, faithful daughter, supportive sister, and inspirational aunt she was. Kim lived authentically, and brought the same love and commitment she shared with her family into her professional and civic life, making her a fierce advocate, loyal supporter, and wise mentor. She was a lifelong cheerleader and an avid fan of the Blue Valley Northwest Huskies, Puma Soccer Club, Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and Chicago Cubs. She loved theater, entertaining, and making a difference.

Kim grew up in Parkville, Missouri, attending Park Hill High School. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude. Her academic success was accompanied by many extra-curricular honors and campus leadership roles, including President of the Delta Xi chapter of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She obtained her Masters of Business Administration from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in 2000.

Kim’s extensive influence in business was most recently felt in her role as the Vice President of Marketing and New Business Development at Russell Stover in Kansas City.  Previously, she was an innovator and leader with VF Corporation as the Vice President of Marketing for Lee Jeans. Kim invested a substantial portion of her career in leadership at the Procter and Gamble Distributing Company in a number of roles. She served as the Vice President of Marketing for P&G’s luxury beauty business in New York City. While working at the P&G Global Headquarters in Cincinnati, she held global marketing leadership roles for the company’s largest brands. Kim’s career included transformation of the world’s most iconic brands. She inspired excellence in those she mentored, coached and developed.

Kim is survived by her husband, Chris, and children Megan and Zachary, of Overland Park, Kansas; parents Larry and Marilyn (Bolling) Lewis of Parkville, Missouri; brother Jason, sister-in-law Rebecca, and nephew Roman Lewis of Parkville, Missouri; mother-in-law Barbara Yates of Olathe, Kansas; sister-in-law Kim Yates, nephew Luke and nieces Katelyn and Claire Hruby of O’Fallon, Illinois; sister-in-law Jennifer Yates Abernathy, brother-in-law Kyle Abernathy, nephews Jensen and Marty, and niece Avery of Overland Park, Kansas; and other extended aunts, uncles and cousins. Kim was preceded in death by her grandparents Louise and Glenn Bolling, and Hilda and J.W. Lewis; her father-in-law Pat Yates; and her beloved canine companion, Leroy.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you lend your support to Girls on the Run Kansas City ( https://gotrkc.org/donate ) or the American Stroke Foundation ( https://americanstroke.org/ ).

A college fund has been established for Kim’s Children. Contributions may be made in the form of checks made out to “Zachary and Megan Yates College Fund” and mailed to the following:

Zachary and Megan Yates College Fund

Bank of America

c/o Chris Yates

9805 W 144th Street
Overland Park, KS 66221