Archie Earl "Bo" Kimbrell

      Archie Earl “Bo” Kimbrell, age 82, of Forest City, died at his residence on Thursday, May 2, 2024. 

      He was born on Monday, June 9, 1941, in Rutherford County, to the late Archie and Lillian Phillips Kimbrell. Earl attended Smith Grove Baptist Church and was a member of the former Alexander Baptist Church. He was a “Jack of All Trades”, working in plumbing, carpentry, and later for Kimbrell furniture. Children loved him and he loved children, especially his grandchildren who affectionately knew him as “Pawpaw”.  He loved horses and horseback riding, racing go-karts in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with his family, and playing poker with his friends, brothers, and neighbors. He was an extremely generous man who would “give you the shirt right off his back” and was “just fun to be around.”

     Left to cherish memories of his life, are his two daughters, Tina Kimbrell Bailey of Forest City and Tammy Patterson of Shelby; two “bonus children”, Scottie Hefner (Erica), of Rutherfordton, and Crystal Thackston (David), of Spartanburg, SC; five grandchildren, Alan-Michael Bailey (Michelle), of Bostic, Peyton Lee Garrison, of Asheville, Hunter Hefner, of Forest City, Bryson Lee, of Spartanburg, and Ethan Lee, of Spartanburg; three great-grandchildren, Thomas Bailey, Tristyn Bailey, and Gavin Bailey; one expected great-grandchild, Asher Garrison; and a number of nieces and nephews.

     In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by four brothers, Joe Kimbrell, James Kimbrell, Kenneth “Babe” Kimbrell, and Tommy Kimbrell; one sister, Nancy Kimbrell Waters; and one granddaughter, Madison Hefner. 

    The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 6th at Smith Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Terry White officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church.