Mary Ann Grimes

Mary Ann Grimes, 93 years old, died Jan 13, 2025 at Aberdeen Village in Olathe Kansas. The only child of George D. and Idella Maxwell Deschner, she was born October 18, 1931 in Newton, Kansas. She grew up during the depression and World War II, graduating from Newton High School with the class of 1949, a class that enjoyed many reunions until the 70th in 2019. She graduated from Kansas University with a major in art education in 1953 and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma resulting in many life-long friendships. At KU she met Floyd Grimes, who she married in 1954 in Newton, Kansas. She taught art for three years at Northwest Junior High School in Kansas City, KS while Floyd finished Dental School in 1956. They moved to California while Dr. Grimes served two years in the United States Navy providing dental service at Miramar Naval Air Station. They were fortunate to live near the Pacific Ocean where they spent time on the beach and experienced the seasons in a new perspective from Kansas.

They returned to Paola in 1958 to live the rest of their lives. They and their two sons, John and George, were a host family to numerous Rotary Exchange and Fulbright foreign exchange orientation students. Mary Ann served on the USD 368 Board of Education and had the joy of giving each son his high school diploma, she supported establishment of the USD 368 Endowment Association and served on that board as president in its early years.

She volunteered in various local organizations and was a member of Chapter DQ, P.E.O., Pleasant Hour Club, Miami County Hospital Auxiliary and Miami County Arts Coalition. She was on the board when Reflections Art Gallery was established at MCMC. Since 2015, the gallery has hosted the Next Generation Student Juried Exhibit during January and February each year with a reception honoring the Student Artists each March. The Coalition established the Mary Ann Grimes Traveling Trophy in honor of her support of local high school art students.

She was a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church served as an elder and participated in Presbyterian Women both locally and in the presbytery. Following in the footsteps of her grandfather who was a florist, she was an avid gardener of both flowers and vegetables.

Her interest in art and art history was enriched by travels in Europe, Great Britain and Japan. Many of the trips were with friends or Floyd’s brother David and sister-in law Sarah. 

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Dr. Floyd J. Grimes II, son John, brother-in-law David N. Grimes, sister-in-law’s Frances Grimes Alt and Sarah Link Grimes. She is survived by her son George of Paola, sister-in-law Lillie Grimes Larsen and her husband Max D. Larsen of Lincoln Nebraska. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation will be February 8, Saturday from 10 to 11am with a memorial service for Mary Ann and Floyd J Grimes at 11am. at the Paola United Methodist Church.