FLORENCE, SC - Kim Edward Speare, 19, of Florence, passed away Monday, September 17, 2012 from injuries sustained in a car accident.

Kim had a fierce love for life; he had learned from his grandfather Edward how to whittle a stick into anything he needed it to be, practical or playful. He loved to fish, hunt and drive his monster truck thru mud; he was a good ole southern young man.

Kim moved to Florence with his parents in 2005 and he graduated from West Florence High School as an honors student. He had a passion for automobiles and had just been accepted to attend a high performance auto tech school in NC.

At home, he spent countless hours drawing and creating things with his hands and imagination. He was proud and worked hard to keep the lawns and gardens well groomed. He loved animals and would take the family's dog for walks or drive her around in his beloved truck.

Kim was forever helping anyone who needed something, he would help customers at his job, he would offer to help at his father's job; he would help anyone he ran into.

Kim Loved to fish and hunt with his best friend Alex, they would take every opportunity to work on their trucks, then go fishing, then talk the night away about whatever 19 year old boys talk about! He often went camping with his brother and father in the mountains, where he would pitch a tent, then find some trail to hike which would lead him to some stream to fish which would provide him with some fish story to tell about the one that got away.

Kim's love for the outdoors was groomed as a youngster as he worked up the ranks from a Boy Scout to one activity short of becoming an Eagle Scout. During this development period his crowning achievement was hiking Philmont, a seven day hike where he had to carry everything he needed to survive in his backpack for a week while hiking up and over a 14,000 foot peak in New Mexico, during which time he encountered a wide range of game animals including bears, mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and turkeys. Kim always wore this proud accomplishment in the form of his favorite Philmont belt buckle.

Kim believed in a spiritual afterworld, where he has now ascended and can continue helping as a guardian angel. Kim's life was cut short at 19 years, but we all know that now he has an eternity to watch over the ones he loved.

Kim is survived by his mother Carole Speare, father Alex Speare, sister Devon Speare and twin brother Kai Speare.

Kim's best friend, Alex Casey "Bubba" Williams, was with him at the time of the accident and also passed away from injuries that he sustained.

A wake will be held for both young men from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home at 2402 S. Irby St.