John Dexter Grier of Chamblee, GA died peacefully in his home on December 3, 2025, after a short battle with lung cancer, with his loving wife by his side and his 18-pound cat, Neeko, at his feet. He was 87.
John was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 20, 1938, to Margaret Catherine Gamble Grier (Peggy) and Arthur Ptolemy Grier. When he was six years old, John contracted polio and spent a year in an iron lung. When asked about that year, the first thing that always came to his mind was not something sad or frightening, but that he passed the time by weaving potholders, a skill he shared with his children and later with his granddaughters. At age 12, when his father was transferred to Atlanta with Chubb & Son, John became a Southerner.
After graduating from The Westminster Schools in 1956, John moved on to Emory University, graduating in 1960 with a BA in Economics. That same year, he met his future wife, Judy Thrailkill, with whom he would spend the next 65 years. Also in 1960, John joined Mutual of New York (MONY) where he earned his Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. In addition to selling life insurance, he became the agency Director of Training.
John loved to fish and, with the help of several partnership friends, built a beautiful home on the Steinhatchee River in Florida. He and his friends built the house from the sand up, and many years of memorable fishing trips, scallop harvests, card games and great meals were enjoyed there. He also loved bowling on a league, where he bowled a few perfect games. Sometime in his 30s, he decided to start cooking and became an adventurous gourmet cook. He patiently taught his kids to fish, camp, garden, drive a stick shift and never litter. He could play boogie-woogie piano, cut a rug, and tell a joke. He was also a quietly generous man. John was about 20 when he discovered his blood type made him a universal donor. He started giving blood whenever he could and donated more than 10 gallons over the next 40 or so years. He was creative and liked to make things with his hands. After retiring, he taught himself to re-weave and re-cane old chairs and was very talented at it. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be truly missed.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Arthur, as well as many dear friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Judy Thrailkill Grier; his children, Kim Tompkins (Mark) and Scott Grier; brother, Robert Grier; granddaughters, Killian Ross and Audrey Tompkins; many nieces and nephews; and a few remaining dear friends.
John did not wish to have a funeral or memorial service. If you're looking for a way to honor him, you could donate blood, clean up trash, or just go fishing and raise a glass to John's memory.
John was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 20, 1938, to Margaret Catherine Gamble Grier (Peggy) and Arthur Ptolemy Grier. When he was six years old, John contracted polio and spent a year in an iron lung. When asked about that year, the first thing that always came to his mind was not something sad or frightening, but that he passed the time by weaving potholders, a skill he shared with his children and later with his granddaughters. At age 12, when his father was transferred to Atlanta with Chubb & Son, John became a Southerner.
After graduating from The Westminster Schools in 1956, John moved on to Emory University, graduating in 1960 with a BA in Economics. That same year, he met his future wife, Judy Thrailkill, with whom he would spend the next 65 years. Also in 1960, John joined Mutual of New York (MONY) where he earned his Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. In addition to selling life insurance, he became the agency Director of Training.
John loved to fish and, with the help of several partnership friends, built a beautiful home on the Steinhatchee River in Florida. He and his friends built the house from the sand up, and many years of memorable fishing trips, scallop harvests, card games and great meals were enjoyed there. He also loved bowling on a league, where he bowled a few perfect games. Sometime in his 30s, he decided to start cooking and became an adventurous gourmet cook. He patiently taught his kids to fish, camp, garden, drive a stick shift and never litter. He could play boogie-woogie piano, cut a rug, and tell a joke. He was also a quietly generous man. John was about 20 when he discovered his blood type made him a universal donor. He started giving blood whenever he could and donated more than 10 gallons over the next 40 or so years. He was creative and liked to make things with his hands. After retiring, he taught himself to re-weave and re-cane old chairs and was very talented at it. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be truly missed.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Arthur, as well as many dear friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Judy Thrailkill Grier; his children, Kim Tompkins (Mark) and Scott Grier; brother, Robert Grier; granddaughters, Killian Ross and Audrey Tompkins; many nieces and nephews; and a few remaining dear friends.
John did not wish to have a funeral or memorial service. If you're looking for a way to honor him, you could donate blood, clean up trash, or just go fishing and raise a glass to John's memory.
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