Kenneth Imler

Kenneth Wayne Imler, (61) took his last breath on Earth and his first breath in Heaven, as he entered into eternal peace on Saturday, March 24, 2018 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

A massive void will be left in many lives with his passing, as made evident by the overwhelming number of friends that showed their support throughout his fight and surrounded him and carried his family through his final days.

Kenneth began his life on September 25, 1956 in Lubbock, Texas. He was brought into this world by his mother, Frances Beaird, and his late father, Sherman C. Imler, Jr. His mother was among the many by Kenneth's side as he left this world.

He married the love of his life, Cathy Davis Imler, on June 1, 1991 and remained Cathy's Clown until the very end. While their lives together were cut short, there was absolutely no shortage of love between them. Kenneth and Cathy joined together to raise their children and continue the legacy of her family's business, Davis Body Shop, Inc. Kenneth quickly became a highly respected figure in the field of auto body repair. He served as co-owner and foreman for most of his professional career, creating one of the largest privately-owned body shops in the area. However, at the end of his life, he contradicted the company's slogan "By Accident We Meet". It was no "accident" when he met face to face with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He was absolutely adored by his beloved grandchildren, quite possibly more than anyone else in his life. PawPaw Kenneth could do no wrong. Kenneth's time with them was much too short but his love will leave its mark on them forever.

Kenneth was a man that was always on the move and enjoyed many hobbies in his leisure time, including drinking coffee and telling tall tales with his brother and all their coffee shop pals, fishing, golfing, bowling, and of course gambling.

He was a self-taught and naturally gifted man in many facets of life, but he excelled at stirring up dust for everyone behind him to eat on the racetrack. He was a decorated and loved, although at times disliked, talented and respected member of the racing community. More than the numerous trophies and championships he won, Kenneth developed many life long friendships during his time at the track not only because of his abilities on the track or his knack for building and setting up cars, but because of who he was as a man and his ability and willingness to teach and share his knowledge with other drivers (without giving up all of his secrets, of course).

Pancreatic cancer unfairly took you from us too soon as it has so many. You got the upper hand because your beautiful and mischievous spirit will live on in the lives you touched and those that will love you forever.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his father, Sherman C. Imler, Jr., step father James Beaird, and father in law Jimmie Nelson Davis.
Kenneth leaves behind his loving memories to be cherished by his loving wife, Cathy Davis Imler, mother, Frances Beaird, brothers Phillip Imler and wife Debbie, Billy Lee and wife Kathy, sister Ann Francis and husband Rivers, children Kenneth (KW) Imler, Jr. and wife Leslie, Chelsee Imler, Brandon McCulloch and wife Samantha, Paul Cline; grandchildren, Michael Steelman, Dakota Romero and husband Adrian, Knox Davis McCulloch, Alexzander Patino, and Cole Harvey, great granddaughter Luna Romero, mother in law Delores Davis Spencer and husband John, special aunt Sandra Plumlee Spoon, Knox's special mommy, Porsche Lind, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as his beloved colleagues at Davis Body Shop, Inc.

Pallbearers will be Mike N. Pool, Mark Vicars, Dewey Kaiser, Greg Elmore, Kenneth (KW) Imler, Jr., Justin Graves, Brandon McCulloch, and Paul Cline.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Pastor Jesse Gore will officiate the service, held on Friday, March 30, 2018, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel at 1:00 pm. Burial will immediately follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens (6801 E. Business 80, Odessa, TX). All friends and relatives are invited to join the family in celebrating Kenneth's life here on Earth at both the service and visitation.

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. For do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?"

"Two hearts once beat together, now one beats all alone. I'll see you again, Kenneth, and we'll forever be reunited when I meet you there on Heaven's shore."

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research (lustgarten.org).

Visitation

Family and Friends Gathering

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Thursday, March 29, 2018
6:00-8:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Sunset Memorial Chapel
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Friday, March 30, 2018
1:00 PM

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762