Industry Veteran Kimberly Varner Passes Away

LOS ANGELES—Industry veteran Kim Varner, membership coordinator for HPPPA, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2023. She was 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; one particularly special friend was Tamara Bell. Kim and Tamara became business partners and sisters. They worked to achieve the betterment of the industry and the understanding of the party plan sector. They worked on numerous projects, spoke on various panels, and wrote a host of articles. They were co-editors-in-chiefs on Sexpert.com.  “Tamara, thank you for providing a safe space,” she said before her passing.  Several members of the pleasure products community offered words of condolences, such as Scott Watkins, VP of sales & marketing at Doc Johnson.“Kim was a special person who touched all of our lives in one way or another," Watkins said. “She was a great communicator and an overall brilliant person," said Loren Levy.  So many have said they are going to miss Varner's 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," Bell said. "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."In 2004, Kim started her own business, Kymbra’s Closet, which remained operational in some format until her passing. She built two other equally successful businesses, “Fun with Fellatio: A Hands-on Guide to Giving Good Head” workshop that she licenses to others in the industry; and Kymbra’s Girl stag, a bachelorette-themed party company. She was a certified Loveologist, through Dr. Ava Cadell’s Loveology University, an ACS certified Sex Educator, a published author and facilitator on the Manufacturer's Forum developed for HPPPA associate members. Kim also was a formerly trained course designer and developer, and she utilized this skill set to enhance the effectiveness and performance of other people in this industry. She had developed and conducted training countless sessions over the years.Kim graduated from Lincoln University of Missouri in 1983 where she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (1980).She 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. 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," Bell said. "Kim had a different sense of humor. 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."Bell said that Kim’s final quote and how she always looked at business and life:“'Don’t remember me as fighting a battle, I was living my life,'" Tamara shared. "'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. Her legacy will live on for years to come."