Donald Grant "Grant" Hickson

1955 - 2025

Donald Grant Hickson ("Grant") of Rancho Murieta, California, passed away of natural causes on January 7, 2025, at the age of 69. He was born in Bakersfield, California, on January 24, 1955, and spent his formative years in Visalia, California, where he engaged in much mischief with his siblings, cultivated numerous lifelong friendships, excelled in a range of sports (especially baseball), and graduated from Redwood High School (Class of '73).

In the 1980s, Grant relocated with his [former] wife Pam and their daughters Carri and Melissa from Southern California to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he established a successful sales career in the nursery business and developed a love of fishing, hunting and golf. Grant later met and married the love of his life, Debbie, and eventually settled in Antioch, California. Having an encyclopedic knowledge of ornamental plants, Grant acquired a passion for gardening, which culminated in the creation of an idyllic landscape -- worthy of Sunset Magazine -- at their Antioch home. After retiring from Matsuda's Nursery, Grant and Debbie (along with his ridiculous amount of fishing and golf equipment) moved to Rancho Murieta in July 2024, which enabled them to enjoy more time with family and friends. Grant especially loved to step out the backdoor of their new home and view a herd of deer or flock of turkeys; to watch the golfers on the 14th hole from his balcony overlooking Rancho Murieta Golf Course; and the home's proximity to five private lakes stocked with fish.

In addition to his many talents and passions, Grant was known for his love of family, tenacious work ethic, genuine warmth, down-to-earth personality, good sense of humor, willingness to lend a hand, perfectionism and admitted stubbornness. He also was known for defying physical expectations throughout his life, as -- despite his trim, 5'7" stature -- Grant could always "punch above his weight", figuratively and literally. He was much loved by his family, friends and customers and will be missed by all who knew him.

Grant is survived by his wife of 26 years, Debbie; his daughters from his first marriage, Carri (Dustin) De Marta and Melissa (Brandon) Thorpe; stepson Ben (Heather) Reddish; three grandchildren Skylar Thorpe, Rylee Thorpe and Tyler DeMarta; two step-grandchildren Gabriel and Jacob Reddish; sweet kitty, Baby Girl; two sisters, Teresa Khachigian-Ritchie and Elizabeth Khachigian and their spouses; mother-in-law Betty L. Conrad; brothers-in-law David Conrad and Darryl Conrad and their spouses; and many nieces, nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by his mother Glenda Khachigian and sister Denise Hickson.

A celebration of Grant's life will be held at a yetto-be determined date and location, with details to be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Grant's memory to the American Heart Association, MakeA-Wish Foundation, or charity of your choice.