Charles Grant Henderson

Charles "Grant" Henderson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Grant Henderson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He left this world on May 20, 2025 at the age of 67 due to complications from Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Born on January 17, 1958, in the Territory of Alaska, Grant's life was marked by his love for family, passion for adventure, and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Grant spent his early years on the family's homestead north of Anchorage, where there was neither electricity nor running water-an upbringing that instilled in him a resourceful and determined spirit.

He was the firstborn son of Robert Chris "Bob" and Betty Gene "Beth" (née Henley) Henderson, elder brother to Claudia Henley, and younger half-brother to David Mattson, with whom he shared adventures once they discovered one another's existence. He especially cherished time spent with his favorite uncle, Sam Henley.

Grant married Janie Evanson in Anchorage, Alaska. Together, they built a full life, raising four wonderful children: Zak (Lera) Decker, Danis (Caleb) Davis, Kier Kingfisher (Athena Michaelides), and Gavin Henderson. A devoted father, Grant's children remember him as the "best dad ever."

As family grew with the blessing of grandchildren, and he found immense joy in being "Opa" to Taylor Evanson, Sam Decker, Maddie, Clayton, Clara and Joella Davis, as well as to his "extra" grandkids Samuel, August, and Marcella Morookian.

Grant attended Northwood Elementary School and graduated from Dimond-Mears Jr/Sr High School in 1976. He earned a B.S. in Math, Computer Science, and Statistics from Utah State University in 1983 and later pursued studies in Petroleum Technology at the University of Alaska.

His professional journey was diverse: he began commercial fishing at age 13 on the F/V Puffin with his Uncle Sam, later skippering his own boats-the

F/V Pursuit, F/V Rafferty, and the

F/V Janie Lou. During the off-season, he worked as a manufacturer's representative for Red Wing Shoes and Wigwam Socks before finding his niche in the oil industry, contributing his skills to BP Alaska on the North Slope in Prudhoe Bay.

Grant's interests were as varied as his career. He was an avid alpine skier (fast, precise, and airborne), a daring mountain biker, and a fearless hang glider. He was also known for his inventive spirit-whether successfully engineering quick purse line closures with lead weights (RIP, Janie's best cast-iron skillet) or attempting (and succeeding) field airplane repairs with duct tape. His enthusiasm for devising solutions (MacGuyver in the flesh!) knew no bounds, from teaching a cat to fetch to building a backyard bike jump into the Sand Lake Canal for his kids-and himself. Grant was an accomplished private pilot and loved to fly every chance he got and was completely convinced that anyone could fly a plane-especially his kids and nephews.

A dedicated community member, Grant served as Boy Scout Pack Master for Pack 126, where he was committed to the precision timing of Pinewood Derby and Raingutter Regatta events. He was a longtime member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and actively participated in Bible Study Fellowship, nurturing his spiritual life.

Grant's journey was not without trials. He bravely battled Alzheimer's disease, a struggle that demanded immense courage and grace. He participated in a double-blind drug trial and donated his brain to research in the hope of development of a potential cure for this horrific disease.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the friends who stood by him during this time: Jim Swalling, Eric Fuglestad, Chris Rosaur, Tom Wardleigh, Dennis Poirier, Chuck Karjala, Mark Miller, Dan McLean, Jim Fleshman, and Don DeVoe. Your kindness and support were invaluable.

The kind, gentle, and loving care Grant received from the amazing people at HomePlace Special Care at Oak Harbor and from Whidbey Health Hospice was truly heaven-sent. They are angels on earth, and we are eternally grateful for their unwavering compassion and steadfast presence

He is survived by his wife, children and their partners, grandchildren, sister, his brother-in-law & sister-in-law Todd & Cathee Copper, brother-in-law Ted Evanson, nieces Erin and Kaitlin D'Eimon, Bailee Robison and Chloee Copper and nephews Tyler and Trevor Evanson, as well as friends who held a special place in his heart who remember him with love. He was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother, and his beloved Uncle Sam.

A memorial service celebrating Grant's life will be November 15th at 2pm at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 8420 Jewel Lake Road. Friends and family are invited to join in honoring his spirit and sharing cherished memories, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider honoring Grant's memory by writing to your congressional representatives to advocate for continued funding for Alzheimer's research. Alternatively, donations may be made in Grant's name to organizations dedicated to advancing Alzheimer's research and finding a cure for this devastating disease. Your support reflects Grant's and the family's deep commitment to ending Alzheimer's.

Rest in peace, Charles Grant Henderson. You will be deeply missed.