Joseph Edward McGrath

Joseph Edward McGrath, 44, of Clermont, Florida, passed away on March 29, 2022. Joe (Joey) was born on February 10, 1978, in Miami to his loving parents Jim and Veda. Joseph is survived by his parents, James Francis McGrath III and Veda McGrath (Taylor), life partner Brenda Gilbert of 19 years, son, Austin Joseph McGrath (Dena Hatcher), grandmother Edna McGrath, brother, James (Jimmy) F. McGrath IV, (Lisa McGrath), sister, Sharon Drudy (Bill Drudy), aunts and uncles David (Butch), Ed, Kathy, Rick, Kim, JoAnn Booth, nieces and nephews Jenna, Elizabeth, Shaila, Hailey, Trevor, Destiny, and Brooklyn. He was preceded in death by his brother Brian McGrath and grandmother Dorothy Helms Taylor.
Joe was born in Miami and lived in Ft. Lauderdale until the age of 18. He then moved and lived in Montverde for 13 years with his brother and partner in crime, Brian. He settled in Clermont with his life partner Brenda and son Austin for 13 years. Joe was a simple person; he didn't seek fancy stuff, but he loved his toys. His favorite was a 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air; he would ramp up the engine to hear it roar or on the occasion he would fall asleep in Classic Blue dreaming of driving down the road at his pleasure. He loved his other toys, a Honda 420 Rancher which he blew the engine within the week of buying the bike. He rebuilt the engine and installed a snorkel. He loved antique lawnmowers, the mower was older (much, like 50 years) than his neighborhood in Clermont. He was proud when he found the mower and gave it a second chance. One of the last maintenances to the mower was installing back tires that are for ATVs.
He said, "I have them and it will work; no reason to go buy new lawnmower tires". He loved to go saltwater and freshwater fishing. He believed in Sasquatch and swore to this day he saw one while living in Miami near the Everglades. His favorite shows are WWE, Wrestle Mania, Smackdown, Law and Order, and Mountain Monsters. His favorite movie was Back to the Future because it was the first movie he saw in the theaters. Joe loved to cook; he could take a few seasonings and spices, mix them together, and would always be delicious. He loved his mom's brisket, eggplant, and quiche. He devoured crab legs, pumpkin pie, tangerines, and vanilla ice cream.
Joe's love for family was at the heart of who he is. He thought the world of his parents and would talk to them every morning, just a simple, "Hello". One day when Joey was a baby, his brothers Jimmy and Brian were in the bathtub for bath time. Veda momentarily stepped outside the bathroom prior to Joey being put in the tub. As true brotherly love, Jimmy and Brian would not let Joey in the tub. Veda returns to find Joey in the toilet and captured a timeless moment of one of his parent's favorite memories and a sliver of his creativity. Just like Halloween one year, where he had a broken arm and added bandages to his head and foot for his dress-up. Many bandages were used throughout his life. It's just like Joe to take an opportunity and be creative. Another family favorite is when he was 4 years old, Veda was trying to get him off pacifiers and he would hide them under the bed. So, he would go purchase another one with money his Grandma Taylor would give him for holidays. So now we now, how he started to collect things and never get rid of them.
Joe was a friend to all and was never judgmental. Joe could meet a stranger and by the end of the conversation, they would be friends for life. He would give the shirt off his back to help others. He loved working on air conditioners. He could hear an air conditioner and would diagnose the unit within minutes. He would do the same with small engines, lawnmowers, weed eaters, ATVs, and 3-wheelers. Anything with an engine he knew how to fix. That was his hobby but also who he was, to fix anything and give it a second chance.
Joe has two great loves in his life. His son Austin and life partner Brenda. Austin was the apple in his eye and his heart and soul. He would do anything for his boy. His phone contact for Austin was "My Boy Austin". He was so proud of how smart and how quickly Austin would grasp on how to repair anything. Where Joe was Austin was following right behind with his own tool belt. His other love was Brenda. Brenda and Joe met 19 years ago at 8 Seconds with a turkey leg in one hand and a beer in the other. And that's how their love story began, a country boy and a city girl. They found each other at the right time in their lives and became each other's strengths. They charted their own course and built a beautiful loving life with each other, Austin and his 3 shadows, dogs Milo, Marley, and Princess.
Even as family and friends selfishly want him back next to us, cooking, joking, smiling, laughing, and his hands in an engine with grease up to his elbows, we are, however, thankful he is free of pain and with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and his brother Brian and Grandma Dorothy Taylor.
He will always be in our hearts, and minds and never forgotten. May he rest knowing family and friends will always look after his loved ones. Joe was a simple person who lived a simple life with his loved ones being his greatest joy. We seek comfort in knowing he is driving down heaven's road.
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