Edward Grampp III

Edward Layton Grampp III (1983-2025), our hero, passed away on March 23rd, 2025, surrounded by family in Rexburg, Idaho. After a valiant battle with brain cancer, Eddie is finally at peace and reunited with his daughter, McKaylee Belle.
Eddie was born on April 15th in Houston, Texas, to Denet Walker Grampp and Edward Layton Grampp, Jr., ecstatic first-time parents. It was the heart of a Texas bluebonnet spring, and he was the sweetest baby with a shock of brown hair. The oldest of six children, Eddie was followed by five sisters who take credit for his patient demeanor and understanding of women, but the truth is, this was just his nature. He was kind, funny, and easygoing, the perfect big brother who never teased his siblings.
Eddie was a creative child who loved legos, drawing, and video games, an introvert who never demanded or liked attention. As a teenager, Eddie learned to play the electric guitar, notes of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" drifting downstairs from his amp. He took German, played lacrosse, and loved to snowboard. After graduating from Alta High School in 2001, Eddie attended BYU-Idaho, gaining a new sense of confidence and independence in an apartment full of boys. Later, Eddie served a mission in Puerto Rico for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002-2004. He enjoyed sharing the gospel with people, becoming fluent in Spanish and broadening his palate with local delicious cuisine.
In 2004, Eddie met the love of his life, Mary Christina Rolph, while attending BYU-I. They built a steady friendship over several months, which grew into a beautiful love story. Eddie remembers thinking he would marry someone just like her on the night they met; Mary knew she cared deeply for him. He loved to point out that Mary made the first move, spelling out that they weren't just best friends, but soul mates. This solid foundation of friendship, love, respect, and care were the hallmarks of their marriage. Eddie and Mary were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington, D.C. temple on May 14th, 2005.
He graduated from the University of Utah in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film studies and computer animation. Eddie's love for video games grew into an incredible career starting in Burbank, California. As a Disney intern, Eddie worked on projects like Tangled, animating Rapunzel's hair. Hired by Nickelodeon next, he animated hit shows like "The Penguins of Madagascar" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". After stepping away from his career to focus on treatments and spend time with family, he found a renewed sense of purpose and control with Spacestation Animation during his last year of life. He never gave up on his dreams and creative projects, working hard to make "Golden" a reality until his final days.
Eddie was a loving father to four beautiful children: Eddie IV, Jacob, McKaylee, and Molly. Shortly after McKaylee's birth, at just 29 years old, Eddie was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme, an inoperable, incurable, stage 4 brain tumor. The prognosis wasn't good: most patients live less than 2 years after diagnosis. He began treatments while living in Burbank, taking baby McKaylee, his "Happy Pill", with him to appointments. After a tragic accident, McKaylee returned to her Heavenly Father in 2015. Their joyous reunion in heaven eases some of the pain we carry in our hearts.
Eddie cherished being a dad, finding gratitude in life's simple pleasures: sharing Saturday pizza night with his family, making pancakes on weekends, playing video games with his sons, enjoying the latest action and animated movies in theaters, and playing Barbies or "kitchen" with his daughters. He had a goofy, sometimes inappropriate sense of humor that stayed intact even through his final days, often making his wife roll her eyes with a playful smile. A doting husband, he'd watch any rom-com with Mary sans complaint, affectionately tickling her back and calling her his angel.
Eddie defied the odds, living 13 years after diagnosis. His story has touched the hearts of many people, even though he didn't love the spotlight.
As a stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he carried his faith proudly, a bright light in a dark world. He was no stranger to struggle, to heartbreak, to loss, yet he never complained or let this harden his heart. We will think of him while we strive to "consider the lilies", seeing him in the beauty of God's creations: the lightning of a storm, the flowers in a field, the colors in a beautiful sunset. May angels bring you in, may we remember your goodness and strength when the road before us feels difficult.
We are forever grateful to his incredible medical team: Dr. Coleman and his PA, Sean, at the Huntsman Cancer Center; Dr. Cloughesy at UCLA; the staff at the Teton Cancer Center; Dr. Packer and his PA, Travis, at Seasons Medical Center. Thank you for giving him the gift of time and comfort.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Eddie IV, Jacob, and Molly; parents, Ed and Denet Grampp; sisters, Allison Bourne (Robert), Kelli Brown (Kyle), Carli Williams (Raleigh), Holly Peterson (Chance), and Summer Grampp (Ryan); his father-in-law, Daniel Nelson Rolph; brothers-in-law, Joshua Rolph, Benjamin Rolph (Kristy), and John Rolph (Brittany); and sisters-in-law, Sarah Magelsen (Shawn) and Kristina Rolph. He is adored by his 24 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, McKaylee; grandparents, Ed and Vesta Grampp, and Vern and Joyce Walker; mother-in-law, Jeanette Marie Rolph; an aunt, several cousins, and close friends.
A viewing will be held on Friday, March 28th from 5:30 pm -7:00 pm at the Crest Haven meetinghouse, 1070 South 2nd East, Rexburg, Idaho. Funeral services will be held the following day, Saturday, March 29th, at 11 am, with a viewing held from 10 am to 10:45 am prior to the service.
A GoFundMe has been set up in Eddie's honor. Please visit at https://gofund.me/2722ac7e
Service will be broadcasted at: https://my.gather.app/remember/edward-grampp