08/24/2026
We would like to take this week to honor our friend's daughter. In honor of Grace Horn's birthday week (her birthday is August 26th), we are celebrating her birthday by making her favorite pie. This week, starting Wednesday, we will have personal-sized blackberry pies all week long, with our large pies available by order or in-store Friday through Sunday.
Please read below what our friend Jen wrote about her sweet girl and the incredible life she led. She was taken too soon, but her memory will always remain in the hearts of her loved ones and our wonderful community.
To help honor Grace, a portion of the blackberry pie sales will go to Waif, an organization Grace believed in for her love of animals.
Grace Alanna Marie Horn was only 15. She talked about becoming a veterinarian because she loved animals. There were several times when she "accidentally" brought home another pet. I was actually upset with her at first, but I soon realized she wasn't just collecting animals; she was rescuing the ones that were neglected or unwanted. At one point, her room felt like a tiny zoo, but she took great care of them.
Grace believed in working for what she wanted. Before she was old enough for a real job, she'd ask if she could do extra chores to earn money for pet food. She never hesitated to work hard. She had a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility that was far beyond her years.
She also dreamed of joining the Army one day, just like her mom. She was incredibly proud of my military service and was always so proud to tell people that her mom had a Purple Heart. She understood that service meant sacrifice and had a deep respect for veterans.
Grace traveled with me all over the United States to Purple Heart events and sat beside elderly veterans, listening to their stories, pushing them in wheelchairs, and making sure they felt appreciated.
She packed extra lunches for classmates she noticed didn't have food (we found that out after noticing our pantry was emptying quicker than expected after our Costco runs). She also carried a little first-aid kit to school so she could help if another student got hurt.
She loved cooking, baking, and crafts using paint and glitter, and she found so much joy in surprising people with homemade goodies or thoughtful gifts like dipped strawberries, handwritten notes, etc. She found far more happiness in giving than she ever did in receiving. She loved every single holiday and never missed a chance to celebrate and decorate the house for every special day.
She also made it a point to acknowledge people. Every single time we went anywhere, she'd compliment a stranger's outfit, tell a woman she was beautiful, or find something kind to say just to make someone smile. No one who crossed paths with Grace left feeling invisible.
Every summer when the blackberries ripened, she'd ask, "Mama, can you make a pie?" She preferred pie over birthday cake. She'd grab a bucket and take her quad through the trails on our property and pick berries for the pie. She'd eat handfuls of berries while she was picking and often had to go back and get more to have enough for the pie.
I'm hoping that the berry pie special will allow people who never had the chance to meet Grace to get to know a little about the extraordinary young woman she was. Every time someone orders a slice of Grace's Blackberry Pie, they'll be helping me celebrate my precious girl who loved indiscriminately, worked hard, gave freely, and made the world a kinder place ❤️
