Sterling Oliver Grover

1995 - 2024

Sterling Oliver Grover, father, son, brother, nephew, grandson, uncle and friend, has been missing and presumed dead in the Gulf of Mexico since Aug. 2, 2024. His fishing boat was headed toward shore due to Hurricane Debby.

Sterling was born on June 12, 1995, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in Alaska to Lisa Grover. He was raised in North Pole, Alaska, as well as Poulsbo, Washington. It seems like he lived more than his 29 calendar years.

As a 3 years old, Sterling contracted rhabdomyosarcoma, a deadly cancer. He spent one year at the Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington, and had five IV chemotherapy medications during that year. His entire digestive tract was affected and sore. Maybe that's why his favorite food was "Chinese," which meant plain, white rice.

While in the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle, Washington, he received his Make-A-Wish to be a Seattle Seahawk. In December of 1998, the Seahawks made him an honorary Seahawk with his hero, Joey Galloway. He had a tiny uniform with the number 84 on his chest. He walked hand in hand with Warren Moon to center field for the coin toss. Galloway made the first reception, ran it in for a touchdown, then ran that ball back to the bleachers, and handed it to Sterling. He also got the game ball from coach Dennis Erickson.

Overcoming his battle with cancer, Sterling later attended North Pole Elementary and Ticasuk Brown Elementary, both in North Pole, Alaska, as well as (mostly) Pearson Elementary in Poulsbo, Washington. He also attended Poulsbo Middle School and eventually graduated from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo.

At age 11, Sterling was baptized in Chena Lake, North Pole, Alaska, by Rev. Ron Wallace of Northern Lights Free Will Baptist Church.

Also, as a child, twice his granny Grover took him, his brother Spencer, and his three cousins, Justin, Jacob and Josiah, to Iowa where their great-grandma Winter and great-uncles, Roger and Kevin Winter, taught them about dairy farming, and raising corn and soybeans.

His granny also taught Sterling about gardening flowers and vegetables. He additionally learned to draw and paint, as well as getting a love of music from her.

As an adult, Sterling became a deep sea diver. He dove in Seattle and Southeast Alaska for geoduck clams, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

At age 20, Sterling had a son, Brayden Michael Boyd. When Brayden moved to Florida with his mother, Ashlynn, Sterling followed and gained employment on a shark fishing boat. He then moved to the Gulf Coast. Living in Tampa, he became a long-line fisherman for grouper. He was in his last job as a crew member when he went missing, as he was slated to become a captain on the next outing.

Sterling was always passionate about the ocean and fishing, as his grandpa Jed and uncle Brandon taught him how to fish in Valdez, Alaska, when he was a child, and he never lost his love for the ocean, which now holds him in her arms forever.

He has now joined multiple family members in heaven: great-grandparents, great-aunts from Iowa and Nebraska, first cousin Serenity from Alaska, and second cousin Marques from Kansas.

Sterling is survived by his son, Brayden; mother, Lisa DeGouviea; stepfather, Augustino DeGouviea; brother, Spencer (Devon); stepbrothers, Ryan (Joy) and Daniel; grandparents; uncles; aunts; cousins; niece, Vera, and nephew, Billy Fitzpatrick; as well as a passel of friends worldwide.

May you find comfort in these words from I Thessalonians 4:13-14:

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring him."

A celebration of life in Florida will be from 1-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Salt Rock Grill, 19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, Florida.

A celebration of life in Poulsbo, Washington, is to be determined.

Condolences may be sent however you wish to Tino and Lisa DeGouviea, 13149 Fir Ave. N.E., Poulsbo, WA 98370.