Marjorie E. Grundy

Marjorie E. Grundy, of Plainfield, passed away May 12, 2012 at the age of 95. She was born February 14, 1917 on the family farm "Glenwood" just west of Peoria, IL to the late Fred S. and Nira (Waugh) Frye. She grew up showing award winning Aberdeen Angus and Dairy calves with two of her brothers. In the middle to late 1930's they showed not only in Peoria, but also as far away as Chicago, IL and Denver, CO. She attended 1st thru 8th grades at the "Orange Prairie" one room school house, with about 30 students. Upon entering Peoria High School, her class size was over 300! After graduating from Peoria High, she was hired by the Caterpillar Tractor Co. to play for their company baseball and basketball teams. To justify her position as a company team player, she was trained to operate a key punch machine and worked in payroll. She played for the "Caterpillars" for 4 years before leaving the company to marry Robert "Bo" Grundy in 1939. Her favorite sport was baseball, and she was their first baseman. In 1938 she was prominently placed in multiple pictures that ran in a "Life" magazine article on the "Caterpillars". Marjorie became a housewife and successfully raised four children. Prior to moving to the farm in 1960, among other things, she was President of the Mary McClelland Elementary School PTA, Girl Scout Leader, member of Mt. Olive Methodist Church in Ben Davis, taught Sunday school and was an active member of the Sunshine Circle. After moving back to the farm, Marjorie quickly became involved in everyday farm life. The farm had 1000 chickens, 3 milk cows and 8 bee hives. Everyday she washed, candled and crated over 300 eggs, from the milk she made butter, cottage cheese and whipped cream, and from the bee's, she extracted the honey and filled quart jars with and without honeycomb and made bee's wax cakes. All of these products were for sale. She also maintained a large garden for the family and canned everything from green beans to tomatoes. She froze rhubarb, persimmon pulp, peas and corn, and made pickled beets. Her work didn't stop there; she even had her own tractor. Initially a 1952 Vac Case, which was later upgraded to a 1963 John Deere 3010. She spent her fair share of time in the fields, and also drove the grain truck to the elevator during harvest time. In her spare time, she somehow found time to sew, knit and to do needle point, for which she won first prize at the Indiana State Fair. She was a member of the Wa-Pe-Ke-Way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Heinrick Frye Family Association, the Indiana Nut Growers Association and was a volunteer at Hendricks County Hospital. After the family stopped farming, she and her husband traveled extensively throughout the US, and Canada visiting long time friends and made many more friends along the way. Eventually wintering in Brownsville, TX for over 10 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert "Bo" Grundy; a sister, Marian Jackson; and 3 brothers, Robert, Warren and Willard Frye. Graveside services will be Thursday, May 17, at 11:00 am (central time) in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, IL. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 16, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm in Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home. Survivors include children, James Grundy (Diane), Joel Grundy (Margit), Kathleen Grundy Knuth (Don), Dennis Grundy (Patricia); 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimers Association.