LOS ANGELES — Industry veteran Kimberly Varner, membership coordinator for HPPPA, passed away on Sunday.
Friend and business partner Tamara Bell described Varner as “a pivotal part of HPPPA’s growth and the industry overall. Her mission was to bridge sectors together for the good of their business. She made many connections and friendships in this industry.”
Bell also described Varner as “a special friend, business partner and sister,” noting that together they worked "to achieve the betterment of the industry and the understanding" of the party plan sector.
“We worked on numerous projects, spoke on various panels, wrote a host of articles and were co-editors-in-chiefs on Sexpert.com,” Bell added, sharing that Varner told her before her passing, “Tamara, thank you for providing a safe space.”
Several members of the pleasure products community offered words of condolences.
Doc Johnson’s VP of Sales and Marketing Scott Watkins said, “Kim was a special person who touched all of our lives in one way or another.” Classic Brands CEO Loren Levy described Varner as “a great communicator and an overall brilliant person.”
Bell added that "many have said they are going to miss her beautiful smile, exceptional knowledge she provided and kind and gentle persona. I am going to miss our daily talks, business building and mostly the friendship we developed. We were together on every project, at every show and pretty much everything. She was my person, and I will hold on to every ounce of memories we made together. I will truly miss her, but will continue her legacy.”
Varner started her own business, Kymbra’s Closet, over 28 years ago, and it remained operational until her passing. She built two other successful businesses: the “Fun with Fellatio: A Hands-on Guide to Giving Good Head” workshop that she licensed to others in the industry, and Kymbra’s Girl Stag, a bachelorette-themed party company.
Varner was also a certified Loveologist, through Dr. Ava Cadell’s Loveology University, an ACS-certified sex educator, a published author and facilitator on the Manufacturers Forum developed for HPPPA associate members.
Varner, who graduated from Lincoln University of Missouri in 1983 and was member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, “was also a formally trained course designer and developer, and she utilized this skill set to enhance the effectiveness and performance of other people in this industry,” Bell wrote. “She developed and conducted training countless sessions over the years.”
Varner married her husband Arthur Varner in 1997 and gave birth to their only child, Clayton in 2001.
“Clayton was the apple of Kim’s eye,” Bell explained. “She adored their son and did all she could to ensure he had a wealth of experiences throughout his childhood and teen years. She was big on college and made sure he continued his education. We are setting up a GoFundMe account to ensure he finishes school to receive his degree to become an architect.
“Kim had a different sense of humor,” Bell wrote. “To know Kim meant you were prepared to receive whatever would fall from her lips. Sometimes you had to brace yourself. It was not always pretty or politically correct, but she didn’t mince words and she said what she meant. She would laugh loudly with you and at herself. Her smile was infectious and made you feel welcomed in her presence.”
Varner’s final quote and how she always looked at business and life was “Don’t remember me as fighting a battle, I was living my life. Remember as you continue through life to laugh loudly, love deeply, forgive quickly and live in every moment.”
“She will be missed and loved by all who had the opportunity to meet and work with her,” Bell concluded. “Her legacy will live on for years to come.”
