Frederick Eric Grant

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Monday, 15 October 2012 03:43

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    Frederick Eric Grant, a longtime Southeast fisherman, died Oct. 8 at Sitka Community Hospital. He was 72.
    Fred was born on July 20, 1940, in Wrangell to Nora Roslind (Zuver) and Aldolph Alfred Grant (Fred Sr.).  Shortly after, the family moved to Pelican, where they built their family home. Fred resided there throughout his teenage and young adult years.  In 1963 he met Bonnie Phillips, daughter of John Franklin Phillips and Ida Mae Barbour, and they were married in 1964 in Seattle, Wash. They have lived in Sitka since 1982.
    Throughout his adult life, Fred was the co-captain and deckhand on vessels such as the Kernel Korn and Norona, and captain of various vessels, including the Roselene, Silver Spray and the St. Lazaria. During his fishing/tendering career he received two letters of commendation from the U.S. Coast Guard for rescuing mariners in distress.
    Many people remember Fred’s amazing knack for building remote-control boats.  One of the many boats he built was a perfect replica of the St. Lazaria. He would get a kick out of  zipping the boat around the Sitka Sound harbor and watching the local fishermen’s reactions.
    Fred was an avid gunsmith and you could often find him in his shed tinkering or reloading shells.  He was amazingly talented when it came to fixing, rebuilding and refurbishing guns.
    Fred made a lasting impression on everyone he met.  He was an honest, kind and gentle man who was devoted to his friends, family, and Gabby the schnauzer.
    One of his favorite sayings was “Heavens to Murgatroid!” He was also a practical joker – he loved playing pranks on people.  He was notorious for loading cigarettes and waiting for his deckhands to light up so he could see their reactions.
    Those who knew Fred knew that he had a zest for life. He lived an active and adventurous life and was a real character.  He could fix anything and knew almost everything. He had many wonderful experiences and adventures and the stories of those adventures will never be forgotten – nor will he.
    He was preceded in death by his mother,  Nora Grant; father Fred Grant Sr.; brother Laurie Grant; great-aunt Migs Megrath;  brothers-in-law Werner Messerer and Wayne Phillips; niece Denise Owens; and nephew Tommy Madsen.
    He is survived by his wife of 47 years Bonnie Grant; daughters Erika (Grant) Burkhouse, and children Elias and Logan Burkhouse, and Lael Grant and children Damien and Izaac Roth; sisters Lynne Messerer and daughter Stacy Messerer  (Levi and Lorelei) and Mig Miles (Dana); and sister-in-law Christine Grant Swanson (Swanie) and her children Gordon Grant (Dale), Bill and Jenny Grant ( Kamryn, Carson and Evan), and Ange  Grant (Kelsi and Taija).
    His brothers-in-law are Jake Phillips (Nancy) and children Jim Phillips (Patti) and children (Frederick, James, Jordan and Carl) and  John Phillips and children (Aaron and Jeb); Casey Phillips and his and Reiko’s children (Jake, and Ken and his wife Kit and their children); and Harold Thompson and family.
    He also is survived by cousin Lyle Phillips (Irene) and family; many other family members; and two longtime friends and John Bailey and Gordie Bailey.
    He was a godfather to SueAnn (Wirta) Sexton.
    “Please join our family in celebrating the spectacular life of Freddy Grant on Saturday, Oct. 13, at noon  at the Halibut Point Recreation’s main shelter” members said.  The family will provide halibut as the main dish and friends are asked to please bring a side dish, and their memories to share.
     In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Alaska Pacific Bank C/O Bonnie Grant.

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