Grant Eugene Vess, 76

Grant Eugene Vess, 76, passed away on Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005, at Coffelt's Moon Chapel with Pastor Barry Johnson from New Song Bible Church officiating.

Grant was born on Jan. 12, 1928, in Spokane, Wash., the son of Monteford and Hazel (Roscoe) Vess. He lived in Rathdrum, Idaho, as a young child, moving to what would become the family farm in Glengary, Idaho, where he spent his childhood playing with his brothers in the forest he loved so much.

He enjoyed fishing with his grandfather and commercially fished for blueback with his father.

Grant served his country during World War II with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Grant married Dorothy Roberts on Dec. 27, 1953, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Together, they operated a Texaco gas station, where he met many interesting people.

In 1954, he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service surveying roads, fighting fires and walking through the forest he loved so much. Upon his retirement from the Forest Service in 1983, he went to work for Welch Engineering until his health forced him to retire in 1985.

Grant is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Glengary; two sons, Gary Vess of Spokane and Grant Vess Jr. of Glengary; three grandchildren, Monte Vess and Micah Vess, both of Tulsa, Okla., and Dawn Vess of Glengary; three great-grandchildren, Megan Vess and Hailey Vess, both of Tulsa, and Damian Vess of Glengary; two brothers, Forest Vess of Hayden, Idaho, and Gale Vess of Spokane; and a sister-in-law, Arlo Vess of Sagle, Idaho.

Grant was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Terry, in 1999.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.