Kimberly Permar

Kimberly Jean Permar of Hermitage TN, age 63, loving daughter, sister and friend, passed away on October 23, 2022, surrounded by family after a courageous fight with Frontal Temporal Dementia – Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Kim was born in Greensburg PA in 1959 graduating from Hempfield High School in 1976. Kim moved to Colorado in 1980 working multiple jobs funding her desire for a successful life.  In 1990, Kim received her bachelor’s degree with honors from Western Colorado University in Gunnison CO.  She was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Colorado as well as Tennessee where she settled and worked as a corporate tax consultant for over 20 years throughout the Nashville area.  As a lifelong member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Kim’s knowledge, dedication and expertise earned her the respect and admiration from those she served and mentored in various high-profile clients in Tennessee.

Kim was happy-go-lucky free-spirited individual that enjoyed living life to the fullest whether attending rock and roll concerts, outdoors retreats, bowling, spending time swimming, hot tubbing or traveling with her sister Missy and niece Nicole.  She could always put a smile on your face, laughter in your heart and her live-for-the-moment attitude provided memories that would last forever.  Kim also had a passion for animals and fostered many older dogs and cats whom she loved and cared for throughout her life especially Luke, Rocko, Buddy, Ruby, Tyler, Tommy and Sable.

Kimberly is preceded in death by her father, Howard Clark Permar.  She is survived by her mother Lois Hayden Engleka of Ligonier PA / Hermitage TN, sister and caregivers Michele (Missy) Dodson and husband Mark of Hermitage TN, brother Howard Clark Permar II and wife Lisa of Vero Beach FL and sister Vicky Hartlep of LaFollette TN.  She is also survived by her niece Nicole (Johnson) Nicholson and husband Joshua and grand-niece Addyson of Mount Juliet TN, for whom she loved and had a close relationship as well as numerous other nieces, nephews and friends.

A Celebration Party to honor Kim’s life will be held on Saturday November 12, 2022 from Noon – 2 PM at Mirko Pasta 2264 Lebanon Pike, Donelson TN 37214.  Family and Friends are invited to come and share fond memories and stories about Kim and celebrate her free spirit and life she led for this casual light hearted event.

Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) is the degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain generally occurring with individuals between 45 to 64 years old affecting behavior, speech or both.  FTD is less common and still far less know than other forms of Dementia and many in the medical community remain unfamiliar with it. FTD is frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s, depression or a psychiatric condition and there is no cure or treatment to slow or stop the progression of the disease.  On average, it currently takes 3.6 years to get an accurate diagnosis with average life span up to 8 years after diagnosis - Kim was diagnosed in 2016.  FTD took away Kim’s her ability to work, live independently, write, speak and eventually her ability to walk and move.  In the end, Kim donated her brain to Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Brain and Tissue Donation Program to help gain critical knowledge in the search for disease prevention and treatment strategies.  A special thank you to Dr. David Hutchings of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care LLC who help guide Kim and her family through this journey and was an invaluable part of her life in understanding her disease.

Nashville Cremation Center is honored to be entrusted with handling Ms. Permar's arrangements. Please visit her tribute page to leave a thoughtful note for the family.