Judith Spivey Kight

Judith Spivey Kight, 83, passed away on August 12, 2024, with her family by her side. Born in Indianapolis on November 7, 1940, to Arthur W. and Mary (Brandon) Spivey, Judy grew up there and attended IPS School #86. In 1946 she joined the Brownie Scouts, and in 1957 her Scout Troop traveled to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth and returned on the Queen Mary. Judy met some of her dearest childhood friends in Scouts and stayed in touch with them throughout her life, including a 40th reunion on the Queen Mary in California and a 50th reunion at a Girl Scout camp in Indiana. Judy also attended Broad Ripple High School before moving to Carlsbad, California, where she graduated as salutatorian from Carlsbad High School in 1958. She first went to San Diego State College and then graduated as a member of Gamma Phi Beta from Indiana University School of Dentistry—Indianapolis in 1962 (Dental Hygiene with Honors). She received a B.S. in Public Health—Dental Hygiene in 1963.

Judy married Jerry Lee Kight, M.D., of Crawfordsville, Indiana on August 11, 1962, in Carlsbad, California. They spent 48 years together before Jerry passed away in 2010, and traveled extensively, alone and with good friends, to favorite spots in California, Colorado, England, Spain, France, and Italy. Judy learned to snow ski later in life and could be spotted making wide, slow turns on the most challenging green runs in Beaver Creek, Colorado (and even once on the double black Birds of Prey). She also enjoyed golf, but never enough to take it seriously. She was proud to be a member of the Board of Directors of Delaware Trails Little League, serving as Secretary and Player Agent and keeping score for her children’s little league baseball and softball teams, which were often coached by Jerry (including a 1979 softball team that fell one win short of going to the Little League World Series). She later worked for the Methodist Hospital Task Core and for many years as a Docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Judy and Jerry had two children, Andrew (Megan Jones Kight) and Sarah (Ann Steele), and three grandchildren, Ellie, Samuel, and Calvin. She also had a brother, A. William “Bill” Spivey (Tuzie Schaefer), who passed away in 2008. Judy worked hard so her children could enjoy the things they love, and she would be proud to know that they have finally answered the age-old question, “Whatever will we do with mother?”.

Her family would like to thank her wonderful team of care providers for their service and support in the last years of her life. She loved them dearly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Indianapolis Museum of Art / Newfields, Attn: Advancement, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center—Broad Ripple is handling arrangements. Judy would prefer, however, that you simply remember her fondly, perhaps sitting on the porch with a glass of wine waiting for her pileated woodpecker to return or in a folding chair at the ball diamond with a scorebook in her hands.