Jackye Lou Kidd

Jackye Lou Kidd passed away peacefully on August 15th in her Indianapolis home of 55 years, surrounded by her family. She battled cancer three times over the past year with incredible courage, remarkable grace, and her wonderful sense of humor and dry wit.

Jackye was born on June 6, 1937 in Indianapolis, the youngest of three girls to Les and Virginia Fox. Jackye and her sisters (Jimmye Sue Lickliter and Jerrye Ann Evans) were very close their entire lives. She graduated from Washington High School in Indianapolis. During a summer dance in the gazebo at Garfield Park, she met Walt Kidd, and they spent many nights together dancing in the gazebo, and they quickly fell in love. On June 24, 1955, Jackye married Walter Lee Kidd. They enjoyed 63 wonderful years together.

Jackye was a loving wife, a devoted mother to four children, an inspiration and role model to ten grandkids, and a proud great grandmother of seventeen great grandkids. She was the cornerstone of this large and loving family for four decades, and she will have a very special place in every family member’s heart forever.

She was a talented gardener and home decorator, and she co-owned two small retail businesses for over 30 years with her daughters. She was also an avid reader, terrific cook, a cherished friend and neighbor to countless people, and a faithful Christian.

Jackye was the thread that held together all of the unique pieces that make up the Kidd Family quilt. The pieces of that beautiful family quilt are: her children – Bruce (Chris) Kidd, Wendye Craig, Ginnye Kidd, and Leslye (Sean) Denny; her grandchildren – Sarah (Josh) Kiger, Brandon (Christina) Kidd, Morgan (Matt) Guy, Hannah (Caleb) Osborne, Lindsye (Kramer) Proud, Kevin (Michelle) Kidd, Rachel (Aaron) Blissitt, Emilye Denny, Paige Denny, and Karli Denny; and her great grandchildren – Isaac Kidd, Evie Kidd, Grace Osborne, Jackson Kidd, Leon Guy, Charlie Kiger, Preston Blissitt, Ruth Osborne, Ashlyn Kidd, Reggie Kiger, John Mark Osborne, Lilly Kidd, Wesley Guy, Oliver Proud, Lainey Blissitt, Olive Osborne, and Aidan Kidd.

She will be missed deeply by her family, but we have decades of wonderful memories of her love and caring; and we know she and Walt are dancing together again to their favorite song, “Unchained Melody”, in a gazebo in heaven.