Keegan Kimball

Keegan OHara Kimball, of Statesville NC, formally of Windsor Nova Scotia Canada, died on May 1, 2014. He was born on May 22, 1991 in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada. The son of Dr. Robert and Marian Kimball. The brother of Robert Kimball (Toronto, Canada), Zachary Kimball (Lexington, KY) and Benjamin Kimball (Kuala Lampur, Malaysia). Keegan moved with his family to Statesville in 1996. He soon lost his proper Canadian accent and became a true Southerner complete with a drawl that was the wonder and envy of his northern cousins. He was active in all sports throughout his youth but football became his passion. He quickly became a driving force in the support of the Carolina Panthers and youth basketball at the local YMCA. Keegan graduated from Statesville High School in 2009 and graduated from NC State with a degree in History & inPolitical Science in 2013. Keegan was very active and outgoing. He loved to throw the football with any willing participant and was an avid tennis player, mostly trying to challenge/constantly beat his brothers. He was passionate about cooking and took pride in treating all his friends with his culinary endeavors whenever he had the chance. A growing intellect, he was fascinated byhistory, the triumphs and tragedies of mankind. He was an avid reader and a burgeoning writer who could often be found in a quiet cornerworking on his own creations. His vivacious smile, personality & loving heart endeared him to friends, family and strangers. He was full of life and energy. He was open and affectionate. He loved his family and told them often how much he loved them. His intelligence, his character, his personality, his generosity all held the promise for a life of great contribution and accomplishment. His compassion for others was demonstrated by his determination to help others even in death. His decision to be an organ donor was honoured by his family who will derive some comfort in the knowledge that as many as eight lives will be saved or enhanced by his generosity.The whole world is the poorer by the loss of this young man who had so much more to give and so much more living to do. Keegan is survived by his parents Robert and Marian Kimball of Statesville; his older brother Robert and his sister in law Jodi, his older brother Benjamin and sister in law Ae, and his older brother Zachary and sister in law Megan. He also leaves his paternal grandmother Alice, 11 uncles,12 aunts and his 36 first cousins throughout the world. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ernie and Margaret O'Hara and his paternal grandfather, Robert G.E. Kimball, all of Nova Scotia, Canada. A celebration of life memorial service will be conducted 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Steve Scott officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Nicholson Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Kimball, Joe Kimball, James Allison, Tony Petrozza, Patrick McConnell, Mike O'Hara, Peter Schecter and Matt Austin. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church (Organ Fund), 125 N. Meeting Street, Statesville, NC 28677 or to Carolina Donor Services Org., 1430 Westbrook Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Nicholson Funeral home in Statesville.