James "Grumpy" Keith Scrimshaw

James "Grumpy" Keith Scrimshaw, of Federalsburg Maryland, passed away peacefully in his home on September 23, 2026. He was born on April 18, 1955, in Rochester New York. Grumpy was the only son of Roger J. and Dorothy M. Scrimshaw.
Grumpy spent his childhood in Niagara Falls, New York. His family would camp the old-fashioned way in a tent, then upgrading it to a tent trailer. He traveled to and camped in many State Parks when he was a child in the United States and Canada. That is where his passion for outdoors and camping stemmed from. He visited relatives often who were agricultural farmers and fell in love with that lifestyle. Grumpy was always taking things apart and putting them back together as a young child. He tinkered with lawn mower and go- cart engines. His father, being the YMCA Physical Director, often took the family to various sporting events. Grumpy really enjoyed the old dirt racetrack near one of his family's frequently visited camping spots. He camped in Montreal, Canada while attending Expo 1967. He loved riding on the monorail in between exhibits while at the Expo.
His family moved to Alexandria, Virginia in 1970. He attended Thomas A. Edison High school and later earned his GED. Grumpy moved to Cape Saint Claire, Annapolis, Maryland in the late 70's, where he later met and married his spouse in 1978. He had two sons and relocated to Nunda, New York to live on a farm.
As a young man, Grumpy moved back to Annapolis and started his welding career at Shaw's Welding in Annapolis, Maryland. His creative talents soon became evident. Grumpy's artwork and drafting skills are shown in his ornamental iron works. He created oodles of items from bells to boilers to decorative stands and bongs.
Grumpy had a love of food and he loved to prepare home cooked meals. He would boil corn on the cob in a handmade boiler and make ice cream in an antique hand cranked ice cream churn. He enjoyed cooking meals for family and friends. He also created menus for his trips to his steam engine shows. His passion for cooking was handed down to his children and grandchildren.
He was a simple man who loved the quiet life, camping and the outdoors. He may be best known for his interest and knowledge of steam and gas antique engines. His enthusiasm for his over 40-year hobby would find him traveling every weekend making hundreds of friends. Many of whom considered him as well as he considered them as family along the way. He enjoyed tinkering with all kinds of engines from miniature to large ones. He has even made his own original engines from scratch, along with drafts for constructing racetracks.
Grumpy also had a love for music and movies. He really enjoyed Christmas movies. He really loved the old classic movies and Westerns. He would always record car races if he were not able to watch them due to being away at shows.
Grumpy was an advocate for cannabis growing smoking and the teaching of others about the benefits of marijuana decades before it became legalized. He was loved by everybody and will be missed immensely.
Grumpy is survived by a sister, Susan Schreckengast, His sons Charles Scrimshaw, and Jedidiah Scrimshaw, 3 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, 1 great grandson and 1 nephew.
A celebration of life will be held for friends and family in the future. Any donations are to go to the national kidney foundation.