Phillip Grant

Phillip Rodman Grant, age 83, died September 19, 2024, at Hospice House in Mountain Home, Arkansas, from Alzheimer’s disease. He chose to donate his entire body for research, especially into Alzheimer’s disease. 

He was born August 16, 1941, in East Moline, Illinois, child of Denzlow and Frances Grant. He graduated from Cedarville College and got his Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa. He married Patsy Grant at Lorimer Baptist in Dolton, Illinois, in 1967. He taught junior high and high school science for 35 years in Crete, Lombard, and Carol Stream, Illinois, and one year at Faith Academy in The Philippines. During the summers he and his sons painted houses and rototilled gardens. He enjoyed growing a large vegetable garden himself. He also completed an addition on the family home in Wheaton. He used his skills and tools to help many neighbors. 

Phillip played trumpet during high school and college in band, a trumpet trio, at church, and TAPS for military graveside services. After retirement, he worked on completion of the family log home on Lake Norfork. He enjoyed cutting trees that blocked the lake view and then cutting, splitting, and stacking the logs for the fireplace. He also took up Intarsia making nature plaques to decorate the home and give as gifts. For over forty years he was known for sharing his famous peanut brittle. 

He sang in the choir and was a deacon at East Side Baptist Church in Mountain Home. He also ran a crew of seniors who mowed the campus for many years. He went on a missions trip to Taiwan and one earlier to China, teaching English. The family also spent a year in the Philippines where he taught science at Faith Academy to children of missionaries. 

In recent years Alzheimer’s and a broken leg inhibited his ability to do all the yard and construction work he enjoyed. 

He leaves behind his wife, Patsy Grant, of 57 years; two sons, Jonathan (Michelle) Grant of Lombard, Illinois, and Christopher Grant, formerly of Littleton, Colorado and now Mountain Home, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Olivia, Stone, Chloe, Lars, Halcyone, and Jonas. Also surviving are his sister, Ruth Grant of Streator, Illinois; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Susan and Donn Mogford of Salem, Oregon; niece, Pam; nephews, Dwight, Danny, and Joe, and their children, Lexy, Max, Grace, Owen, Rory, and Ezra. 

Preceding him in death were his parents and sister, Joyce Grant. 

Family Visitation will begin at 10 am on Saturday, October 12, 2024, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 am at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, 600 Hospital Drive in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Reverend Donn Mogford will officiate, assisted by Reverend Scott Speer and Reverend David Gadbaw. Memorials may be made to the Missions Fund at East Side Baptist Church, 718 E. 9th St., Mountain Home, Arkansas 73653. Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.