Drew Stephen Kimball

Drew Stephen Kimball was born May 20, 1980, in Long Beach, California, to Jeff and Tracy Kimball, and died with his 12-year-old son, Grahm, on November 5, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona. He is preceded in death by his son, Braden; his grandparents, Sy and Betty Kimball and Stephen Roger Slack; and niece, Rylee Ann Kimball. He is survived by his wife, Tanya; daughter, Hallie (Tex) Wilcock; son, Jack; parents, Jeff and Tracy Kimball; and grandmother, Ellen Marjorie Slack. Surviving siblings include Megan (Todd) Lewis, Ryan (Becky) Kimball, Stewart Kimball, Erin (Keith) Allred, Perry (Emily) Kimball, and Kelsey (Craig) Cook.

As a child, Drew was the little freckle-faced, strawberry-blonde kid with scratched glasses. Those glasses defined his look from a young age, and his early years in Huntington Beach, California, were filled with little league baseball, soccer, and basketball. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Provo, Utah. Drew loved being a T-Bird; he was a yell leader, played on the varsity golf team, and graduated from Timpview High School.

After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Uruguay, Drew married Tanya Marie Myers. He loved and adored her, and her patience, strength, and commitment were an anchor to him throughout his life. Together they welcomed Hallie, Braden, Jack, and Grahm into their home. Being a dad was Drew’s greatest joy in life. He took the time to make each one of his kids feel special, and he always told them “I always have your back” and “I freaking love you.” As a father and husband, he made everything in life more fun, and he made sure that his family had lots of adventures together that they’d always remember. 

Drew was a people person, and became a successful entrepreneur and licensed appraiser. He founded his own appraisal company, Watermark Appraisal Group, and was known for his strong work ethic. He was outgoing, genuine, generous, loyal, and non-judgmental. Known for his infectious personality, he made friends young and old and was always the life of the party. He loved spending time with family, especially as the “funcle” to 26 nieces and nephews. Drew’s favorite place to be was on the water. He loved wake surfing with a boat full of friends and family, and he often played hooky with the kids by picking them up in the middle of the school day on Friday and heading to the lake to start the weekend early. He lived in the moment and found so much joy in his friendships.

The greatest change in Drew came after the tragic passing of his son, Braden. This loss transformed him into a passionate advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, and he devoted himself to lifting others and giving hope through public speaking and outreach work. He distributed heart rocks to people around him to remind them of their value and worth.

Drew’s legacy is one of love, living life to the fullest, and the importance of each individual person. His message, shared at Braden’s funeral, was simple but profound: “Take every opportunity to appreciate, lift, and love.” His parting words, to each of us, would be: “You matter.”