Grady Sanford

Grady Sanford

Grady Holland Sanford, 61, died at home Wednesday, May 30, of pancreatic cancer. Grady was born in Springfield, Missouri November 4, 1950, to William P. and Helen S. Sanford. After graduating from Parkview High School in 1968, he completed his BBA and MBA at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. Grady and Carol Ann Webb, also of Springfield, were married in 1972. After time spent with Home Building and Lumber in Rosenberg, TX , Wal-Mart in Springdale, AR and MOAF, Inc. in Springfield, the majority of Grady's working life was spent as Senior Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch and as Chief Investment Officer of The Trust Company of the Ozarks.

Grady served his community in Springfield in many capacities, including on the board of Sigma House, as Director of the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport, Chairman of the Mayor's Commission on Human Rights, as an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, and on the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of West Missouri.

In 2002, Grady left his financial career and accompanied Carol to the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. His activities in the San Francisco Bay area included offering his professional experience as a Project Consultant to the Episcopal Diocese of California, preparing homemade ice cream and refilling the coke machine for the seminary community, serving as interim Director of the School of Deacons, taking classes on-site at the Jesuit School of Theology and online with CDSP, being an active member of the Noonie Tooners, and riding his motorcycle in the Berkeley hills. This diversity of interests and activities is typical of the beloved husband, son, brother and friend who embraced the motto "Seek the Joy of Being Alive."

After moving to Kansas City, MO in 2005, Grady's activities expanded to include time as a bus driver for First Student and for Arrow Stage Lines, Volunteer Coordinator for Abraham's House, the Habitat for Humanity project uniting Muslim, Jewish and Christian congregations in service, walking dogs and manning the desk at Wayside Waifs, and earning the designation of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Dispute Resolution Arbitrator. At Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Grady joined Men's Bible Study and served as an acolyte, lector, youth mentor, Eucharistic Minister, and on the Finance Committee. Grady was also an enthusiastic member of the Ward Parkway Group.

Throughout his life, Grady maintained his connection with the not-for profit Camping and Education Foundation, beginning as a camper at Kooch-I-Ching on Rainy Lake, MN, eventually becoming Chairman of the Board of Directors and, in recent years, joining the 'old guys' canoe trips in the boundary waters and driving Kooch and Ogichi buses filled with campers throughout Canada and the northern and western US.

For over twenty years Grady expressed his gratitude and joy in life through active participation in the recovering community. His life was greatly enriched by the many friends, pets, companions in recovery and valued colleagues who filled it.

Grady was predeceased by his father, William P. Sanford. He is survived by his wife, Carol, of Westwood Hills, KS, his mother, Helen Vincent, of Kansas City, sister Susan of Sequim, WA, and brother Bill and his wife Carol, of Daufuskie Island, SC, as well as the aunts, cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and godchildren whom he loved so much.

Services will be held at 10:00 o'clock Monday, June 4, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th and Broadway in Kansas City and at 10:30 Tuesday, June 5, Christ Episcopal Church, 601 E. Walnut in Springfield, where Grady was baptized, confirmed, served as an acolyte and was married. Arrangements are under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grady H. Sanford Memorial Fund, Camping & Education Foundation, 3515 Michigan Avenue,

Cincinnati, Ohio 45208, or to St. Luke's Hospice or Wayside Waifs, both of Kansas City, MO.