Grady Lee Thomas Jr.

1944 - 2023

A loyal and trustworthy friend, Grady was a salt-of-the-earth kind of man – who fancied himself a charmer with a little Casanova thrown in.

With his signature sense-of-humor, he was often a cantankerous ol' coot and wouldn't give up goading you if he thought he could get a rise out of you!

Grady Lee was 12 when he, his dad, mother Alice and sisters Dawn and Lita came to Alaska. He was very proud that Alice, a journalist, documented stories of their life and the riggers of pioneering and homesteading down Halbouty Road on the Kenai Peninsula.

At 16, he left home and worked for the AK division of Lands making land maps, sticking with it until after the '64 earthquake, when he felt duty bound and joined the Army Reserves.

He then owned his Auto Mechanic & Snow Machine shop (Grady's Sales & Service) and organized the "Cheechako Ski Benders" club for snow machine racing throughout the peninsula. He loved fishing and hunting and participated in all the wilds that Alaska has to offer.

During his "working for the man" years, he worked on the Oil Platforms in Cook Inlet, Standard Oil at Swanson River, and for Tennessee Miller in Prudoe Bay.

Grady was an ingenious mechanic, machinist, mill-wright, boatbuilder, and house builder. With his can-do spirit and "designer brain", Grady could envision and design to improve whatever he worked on.

He never did retire and lent his time, expertise and the shirt off his back to help many a friend; building and working on their vehicles, boats, equipment, houses and hunting rigs, all the way from Willow to Anchor Point.

Grady leaves us with a smile, a laugh and a place in our hearts where he will be missed.

He is survived by his sister Dawn and family. A private ceremony will be held at the old Homestead.