August 31, 1977 – April 25, 2024
Michael Duane Grimes II, 46, Orleans, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024, at IU Bedford Hospital after a sudden heart attack on his way home from work.
He was born Wednesday, August 31, 1977, in Bedford, to Michael “Mike” Grimes and Lisa Zaragoza. Mike was employed at Whitney Tool Inc. in Bedford, Indiana.
As a young military child, he lived in North Carolina at Fort Bragg, where he learned a different type of life, but in the best ways. Growing up, Mike spent most of his life living in Mitchell, which he always said were the best days as a kid and one of the places he continued to this day, having lifelong friends and claiming the name “Mikey” from his Mitchell friends and family. He treasured the days and times he spent with his Papaw Franklin Grimes, growing up admiring him so very much in how he lived his life, teaching Mike along the way, admitting, of course, to being as onery as ever and not knowing how his Papaw survived it.
Mile also loved his Nana Sharon Abbott, who told many stories of his cross-country adventures with her and shared home videos of his grand adventures. He smiled ear to ear each time he shared a story of their trips.
Mike attended school at Bedford and Orleans, where he continues to have life-long friends.
Mike never met a stranger and was always the light in the room.
Mike married Lee Douthitt, his other half, on October 30, 2009, on a whim and ended up being two
peas in a pod together through life, forever soulmates.
He was the proud father of seven beautiful children: Macie (Nate) Dorsey, Chandler (Mikya) Ikerd,
Madelynn (Grant) Grimes, Elle (Chase) Ikerd, Noah Grimes, Riley Grimes and Brynn Grimes. He was
Pappy told his two sweet grandbabies Briggston and Beckett Dorsey he was excited to show them all of Pappy’s ways.
Mike was a member of Orleans Christian Church, where he secured the nickname “Moon Pie Mike” which
he treasured. He is a member of the American Legion Post 250 and the Orleans Library Board. He was so excited to become a recent member of VFW Post 9107.
He is survived by his grandmother Sharon Abbott, father Michael (Carla) Grimes, mother Lisa
(Raymond) Zaragoza, Father-in-Law Sam (Carol) Leinart, Siblings Robert (Tiffany) Gammon, Kara Reyher,
Kailyn, Jennifer and Joseph Zaragoza, Wife Lee Grimes, children, grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Brandy
Ream, Mallory (Josh) Mink and Brooke (Michael) Newlin.
He was preceded in death by grandmother Charlotte Passmore, grandfather Franklin Grimes, mother-
in-law Anne Leinart and father-in-law Joe Douthitt, whom he had always wished to have met.
The funeral will be at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Orleans Christian Church Unity Hall with Brother Thomas Bostic officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Memorial contributions can be made in Mike’s memory to Orleans Christian Church.
Ochs-Tetrick Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at ochstetrick.net.
