Biography: Our world has been forever changed with the sudden passing of our beloved mother, Kim Tharp Maginn, on the morning of Tuesday, July 6, 2021, after her hard-fought battle with COVID-19. We love her very much, and we will think of her often and fondly. She LOVED to read. No matter where she was, she was likely to have a book or her nook with her. She loved watching true crime and suspenseful dramas and discussing them with her daughters. She had a big heart for animals, and she our father raised several litters of labrador retriever puppies. Kim loved to learn, and she loved to watch that “ah ha” moment when the children she taught learned something new. She was living life to the fullest, and she was a wonderful example of what a mother should be. Noelle and I can only hope we can follow her example with our own children.

Born on April 18, 1958, Kim Angela Tharp Maginn was brought into this world by her parents, Norman Woodrow Tharp and Esther Estell Millard, and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kim graduated as a Tiger from Little Rock Central High school with the Class of 1976. She was a cheerleader and a member of the Beta Club, Y-Teens, and Southernaires. After high school, Kim moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas where she attended the University of Arkansas and began working on a college degree. Later, Kim moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she married John Raymond Maginn on February 12, 1983 (since divorced in 2020). They celebrated the births of their daughters, Rachel Maginn Rosser on May 16, 1984, and Noelle Maginn Collier on December 17, 1990. During this time in her life, Kim most notably worked at Youth Home and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1993 and her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1998. Kim worked in elementary education at the Anthony School for several years, before switching gears and working at a few other businesses most notably Confetti’s Party Rental. She had recently returned to her passion of teaching and was enjoying being part of the teaching staff at Terry Elementary School.

Kim was very close, present, and supportive to both her daughters and involved in their lives. She would talk and text multiples times a week, and she enjoyed visiting with them every chance she got. She was their biggest cheerleader. She helped plan Rachel Maginn Rosser’s wedding to Nick Rosser on October 4, 2014, and she was present for the birth of their son, Emmett Logan Rosser, who loving knew her as “Kimmie.” She was very supportive of Noelle Maginn Collier’s marriage to Nick Collier on July 30, 2016, and she was present for the births of both of their children, Christopher Ryan Collier and Carter Dylan Collier. They lovingly knew her as their “Kiki.” She adored her grandsons and was ever present, supportive, and cheering them on at sporting events, birthday parties, holidays, vacations, trips to the pool, dinners out, and several sleepovers. Kim loved to spend time with her Logan, Ryan, and Carter and doing so brought her immense joy. She would do anything for them. She taught them to be kind, compassionate, and grateful, but most of all she taught them how to have FUN! Our mom loved to have fun!  

COVID is a heartless and non-discriminating disease. It robbed us of the opportunity to enjoy several more years with our mom. She was in the best shape of her life when she fell ill with COVID. Thankfully, Noelle and Rachel were able to visit Kim in her ICU room (wearing protective PPE) the night before she passed away. Rachel was fortunate enough to be with Kim as she drew her last breath late in the morning of July 7, 2021. We have so much empathy for others who were not able to be with their loved ones due to the COVID pandemic, and we will be forever grateful for the wonderful nursing staff that allowed us to visit our mother and be at her bedside at the end.

Due to the current prevalence of COVID in Little Rock, Arkansas, our family will hold a small private Memorial Service with a virtual component that will be broadcast live to Ruebel Funeral Home's Facebook on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 3pm.