INDIANAPOLIS — Kay Lavina Grimm, died peacefully in her home on Wednesday April 10, 2024. Ms Grimm was born in DeKalb County, Illinois on Dec. 24, 1961. Ms Grimm was preceded in death by her parents Curtis Glenn Grimm and Dolores Hawver Grimm and sisters Cindy Grimm Johnson and Jamie Sue Grimm. She is survived by her brothers Brian Grimm, Joel Grimm (Terry) and her twin Kevin Grimm (Lora) and many nieces and nephews. Ms. Grimm is also survived by her long time partner and friend Ms Sue Spicer. Countless friends and colleagues throughout Indianapolis, central Indiana and beyond, mourn the loss of Ms Grimm who was a significant icon in the development of the local food movement.
She served in the Air Force, serving in the Intelligence branch as an interpreter. After leaving service, she was involved in a tree planting initiative in West Virginia, where she met Sue Spicer, and came to Indianapolis with her. She was an avid seed-saver, and started Kids N Bloom and the Green Bean Team. She was a leader in food access and community development, going on to create Fruit Loop Acres on the east side.
According to her friend Mary Bookwalter, one of her great victories was to press the Indiana Congressional Delegation, all 11 members, to support the most protective management plan of the Hoosier National Forest. Hoosier Environmental Council — then Director Jeff Staut developed his plan. Kay and fellow canvassers garnered 145,000 signatures of citizen support, loaded these papers in a van, drove to Washington D.C., pushed them in a wheelbarrow through the two Senate and nine House offices. This plan was a model of true conservation of a beloved national forest. Most recently in 2017 she stood in support of the preservation of Crown Hill Woods. As a veteran and a naturalist, she helped move the National Cemetery Association from destroying an old forest to planting trees creating a place for Veterans columbaria among a planted woods. Trees will stand in their honor.
The community is invited to celebrate the life of Kay Grimm on Sunday April 28 at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery. Visitation will commence at noon, Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m., full Military Honors at 3:00 p.m. and a pitch in reception following at Unity of Indianapolis, where Ms Grimm worshiped; 907 N Delaware St.