LeRoy CECIL KIMBRELL

LeRoy, “Casey”, “Bud” Kimbrell

LeRoy Kimbrell, known to many as “Casey” and to others as “Bud” passed away the morning of June 5th, 2025. Born LeRoy Cecil Kimbrell, June 2nd 1927 in Logan, Kansas to Hazle and Roy Kimbrell, he, along with his parents and siblings Malinda, Helen, Fern and Bill moved to Washington State in the 1930s. They had lived through the dust bowl and the decimation of all the farmlands in the Kansas area. They were on their way to Seattle for work at Boeing and a better life when they stopped for some temporary work in the Outlook area. Temporary turned to permanent, and they decided to stay. LeRoy was nicknamed “Bud” by his family due to the similarity of his and his father’s names, and he often told the story of earning his nickname of “Casey” while playing baseball. LeRoy was drafted into the Army in October of 1946 and was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operation. He served as a Guard Patrolman during the occupation of Japan. Upon his return home in 1947, he married his sweetheart, Jo Kimbrell, who ended up being his wife of 75 years. In 1952 he re-enlisted into the military, this time as a Marine and served for 2 more years out of Camp Pendelton as a Military Police Officer. Jo and “Casey” moved to Prosser in 1954 where “Bud” took on work as a hired farmer, first for the Ammerman’s and later for the Klingele’s. It was there that they also raised a family. They have one son, Dennis Kimbrell, of Tolleson, AZ and three daughters, Patti (Mark) Salter, of Tacoma, WA, Julie (Mike) Clark of Granite Falls, WA, and Donna (David) Vacek of Prosser, WA. LeRoy also has four grandchildren, Logan (Bethany) Holmes, Caycee (Brad) Eldridge, Jessica Clark and Gavin Clark, and two great-grandchildren Hazel and Brooklyn Eldridge. After retiring from the farm, Jo and Casey moved into the town of Prosser where Casey continued to “farm” their small garden and apricot and walnut trees. LeRoy is preceded in death by his wife Jo (2023), his parents, and all of his siblings. He had just celebrated his 98th birthday on June 2, 2025. Graveside services will be held at the Prosser Cemetery on June 13th at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to your favorite animal or children’s charity of choice.