John Grant

John Shields Grant, age 77, passed away on December17, 2018. Born in Scotland, he came to this country at age 10. He was brought up in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, and then joined the United States Air Force. He was an Eastham resident for 56 years.

John was a member of the Eastham Volunteer Fire and Rescue squad; he coached Eastham Little League baseball and was the owner of the Eastham based business: Marshwinds Floor Covering for 27 years.

John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janette Grant, two sons, Guy Grant of Eastham, Dean Grant of Melbourne Beach, FL, and four grandchildren, Jared, Kaitlin, Dayton, and Ashley Grant.

Visiting hours will held on December 21st from 5 – 7pm at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, MA. Funeral mass will be held on December 22nd at the Eastham United Methodist Church at 11 am. Following the service, burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eastham Fire Department and Rescue Squad or the “Muster Seed” Kitchen (P.O. Box 833, Wellfleet, MA 02667. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com .

Scriptures Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

1 There's a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens:

2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and time for uprooting what was planted,

3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up,

4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing,

5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for throwing away,

6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away,

7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking,

8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace.

Well, today is a time for peace! My Dad had to navigate some pretty rough waters to cross the final bar, but he made it. So, rest in peace Pops, nothing but fair winds and calm seas now!

John Sheilds Grant- Eulogy

Our Dad was born May 30, 1941- and passed away shortly after midnight on December 16, 2018. To us, our father had a really incredible, " Wow" life! Our dad had many titles: " John Grant" - in business, " John" - with all his friends, he was " Pops" to us and his grandkids always called him " Papa"! Our dad was born in Meslick Scotland on May 30th, 1947. His mother, Anny Shields Grant gave birth to him in Lord Aberdene's Castle in north Scotland. Lord Abderdene opened his castle at the time to expecting mothers as a safe haven from the conflicts of World War I. Wow! born in a castle

At the time of his birth our dads father was at sea in the Merchant Marine. Dad never had a chance to meet his father. Only as an adult did he truly find out where and what happened to his father. As history now shows, his father was on the ship, Vile de Liege, a Belgian steam passenger ship sunk by U-boats in WWII, under much political controversy. WOW! growing up not knowing about your dad

In 1951 Dad and his mother moved to the United States, to an apartment building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. at that time, he and his mom, did not have to process through Elis island because he and his mother were sponsored by the Dutch reform church of Brooklyn. WOW to migrate to a different country as a kid

Our dad grew up in this Greenpoint, Brooklyn apartment building with his mother, grandmother, aunts, and uncles. Gramma Shields, Aunt Minor, Uncle Teddy, Aunt Jesse, just a few of the gang who would get together, tell stories and enjoy: Hard Rolls, cold cuts, Scottish pies and lets not forget delicious Knishes.

Schooling was always very important to Dad. One of his proudest moments as a kid and carried into adulthood, was his acceptance to the prestigious high school, Brooklyn Technical High school. Little did he know at the time he would meet a fellow Brooklyn Tech student as an adult on Cape Cod. He and his fellow Brooklyn Tech Collegue, Stratus Kantunous, would remain dear friends and enjoy many moments together over the years. WOW its a small world

After high school, to the surprise of his mother and as the story goes, not a pleasant surprise, dad signed up for the Air Force. Surviving basic training and early radar detection classes, his first deployment was to the Texas towers. Interesting enough the Texas Towers were built off the New England Coast. The stories dad would tell about the Towers were down right scary. Emergency evacuations via helicopters, sisters towers going down in storms, it was no wonder after his four year enlistment period he decided to leave the air force. WOW emergency evacuations from towers in the middle of the ocean via helicopter

One really special moment came from his departure in the air force!

Just before and in the process of leaving the air force my father met our mother on a sunny day in April. This turned out to be a very special day because they fell in love and two months later on June 2, 1962 they were married and their life together on Cape Cod began. Salt air and sand, North sunken meadow road and Cap Cod Bay, would become their new world together. Our parents were married for 56 years. They loved traveling and seeing places. From the streets of Dolly World, Tenessee to the canals of Venice Italy, it was all about enjoying the moment! WOW Brooklyn boy living on Cape Cod

Pops work ethic was unprecedented. Hard work was in our dad soul. He managed to build a very successful personal business in floor covering. Both my brother and I worked with him over the years and can attest to the fact that it was 'friggin" hard, on your hands and knees all day, work. He never complained though, he always appreciated having the work and took pride in every job. In 1979, his biggest most successful business achievement was opening the store, Marsh Winds Floor Covering. Marsh Winds floor Covering's doors were open for 27 years. WOW and he had never laid a tile in his life, before coming to the Cape

Those who have known our father over the years know about his passion for and dedication to his family. Anniversaries, Holidays, Birthdays, Coaching teams, watching games, fishing trips, trips to the outer beach, volunteering on the Fire Department and Rescue Squad, telling and hearing a good joke, were always things our dad looked forward to and enjoyed doing.

His memory for and passion for oldies music was unprecedented. To tell the truth, sometimes a little annoying ( just kidding) . He just loved listening and singing along to the "oldies". We're sure he's singing along to the oldies in heaven right now.

We wish our father peace in Heaven! we hope he truly knew how much he was loved, looked up to and always said with pride, " That's my Dad!"

Rest In Peace Pops!!