15 Jan Grant Dodson Averill
Grant Dodson Averill was born in Gary, Indiana on April 30, 1949. The third son of Raymond and Bernice (Thomas) Averill. He died December 21, 2023 at his home in Bountiful, UT after a valiant battle against prostate cancer.
Grant grew up in Hobart, Indiana and graduated from Hobart High School, class of 1967. Grant stayed lifetime friends with many classmates and their families. Until the past year, Grant made many monthly trips back to Indiana for lunch with these friends.
Grant enlisted in the US Air Force in 1968 and worked as a medic in the USAF Hospital. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1976 with a Bachelors and Master degrees in Elementary Education. He taught in the public schools in Lovington, Portales, and Clovis New Mexico, retiring in 1998. He then moved to Utah and taught in the elementary schools in Clearfield, Kaysville, and Woods Cross, UT before retiring again. He also retired from Southwest Airlines. During his career, Grant was revered as a master teacher. He had a gift for making all of his students feel valued- no matter their background or reputation, they were treated with kindness and respect. Grant’s most notable teaching tool was his incorporation of the theater arts into his curriculum. His classroom plays (many of them from Shakespeare) were performed in front of students and family and gave students the opportunity for positive expression and self-esteem. Grant’s students will always remember him as “Mr. A”. He made a lasting positive influence on hundreds of lives, and is a true hero in the teaching profession. He was an extremely gifted and much requested teacher. He loved all of his students equally. “Never forget that you are special to someone.”
Grant loved to travel and traveled in 43 foreign countries and six continents.
Grant is proceeded in death by his parents, and J. Richard Waite, his former companion of 43 years. Grant is survived by his two older brothers, Raymond (Nancy) and Charles (Elaine) Averill, two nieces and one nephew, two great nieces and two great nephews. Grant is also survived by his loving companion of 11 years, Brett A. Handy. He also leaves behind his much loved dog, Spartacus. He is also survived by Brett’s daughter Faith, and Richard’s children Todd Waite, Colleen Schumacher, Janeen Lish, David Waite, Kalani Reed and Jennifer Burstedt.
Grant did not want a funeral. However, due to the large influence Grant made on his students, parents, co-workers, friends and family, an informal celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 10th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at City View Mortuary 1001 East 11th Avenue, SLC . Private interment for family and close friends will be held after. Grant’s wish was to be cremated with his remains divided and interred with Richard in the Hyde Park, UT cemetery; and in the Bountiful, UT cemetery in anticipation of Brett’s future passing. In lieu of flowers, Grant would have preferred you donate to a local charity of your choosing.
Brett would appreciate and encourage any friends, family, and especially Grant’s students, to leave a brief memory of Grant and his influence on their lives below.
There are no words to describe the vast hole that has been created in our lives and hearts with his passing. That hole can only begin to be filled with the vast love Grant had for everyone he came into contact with.
Brett A Handy
Posted at 14:09h, 15 JanuaryI love you Grantser. My heart is heavy in your absence. I am so fortunate and honored to have shared my life with you during your golden years. Even though these were difficult years with health issues, I would not trade these years for anything. Please keep a space in your heart and a place by your side for me. I miss you so much. A huge part of me went with you. You will always have my heart and my undying love.
Varun and Divya
Posted at 14:30h, 15 JanuaryGrant was our neighbor, and our first friend in this street. Our first encounter with Grant was him mowing our grass, we’d just bought the house and hadn’t moved in yet. Grant showed his friendship to us with many such acts of kindness, and indeed, his legacy itself will be one of kindness and warmth. We will miss him everyday.
“Teamy” Foley Hall
Posted at 14:50h, 15 JanuaryI grew up with Grant. He was my older brother’s friend and he reminds me of laughter and fun times.
John Ryan
Posted at 15:51h, 15 JanuaryGrowing up in Portales New Mexico, one person I always loved to see was Grant. I was little and had the Privilege of having him around as a family friend. His smile was beaming, his face so handsome and his voice always reassuring. Truly a handsome, kind and beautiful man, he reminded me of my dad so much. He was so personable that I loved being in his presence. A beautiful voice and a welcoming laugh!! I will miss you so much Grant. I truly love who you were and what you meant to my family.. John Ryan
Marla Ryan Chrisman
Posted at 16:35h, 15 JanuaryThinking of you Brett, and sending much love to you and all his loved ones. He will be remembered for his charm, humor, kindness and friendship. He has always been a treasured friend to our parents and our family. We will miss his smile and warmth here. He made the world brighter and better.
Ben Smith Storey
Posted at 19:18h, 15 JanuaryWow! Words can’t express the influence this man had on me in 6th grade in Portales, NM. The plays were instrumental, the teaching students to use a piece of paper to make an envelope and send a weekly letter to someone special….so many amazing life lessons. Heaven is a brighter place with Mr. A in it!!
Natalie Pfaffenberger Clark
Posted at 23:20h, 15 JanuaryI have always and will always love Mr. Averill. I had the opportunity to have him as a teacher at Lindsey elem. in Portales, NM. He truly did make his students feel special. What a wonderful, kind and generous man he was towards all of his students. He will ALWAYS be one of my favorite teachers. I love you, Mr Averill.
Cathie Thomas Haggard
Posted at 17:43h, 17 JanuaryI met Grant probably in 1968 ish ( not great at timelines). when he was stationed in Clovis with the Air Force. I was a young student at ENMU. I became friends with Dick Waite, as well as Duane and Martha Ryan around that same time. Grant and I spent a great deal of time causing trouble in Portales???? Grant’s love of theatre and the arts was a strong reason we became friends. We saw Oliver about 20 times! He loved religious revival music and we would go to several a night in the spring time. . We were on one of Dick’s theatre tours to NYC in the early 1980’s. His eagerness to learn and appreciate theatre was infectious. We remained friends, although years could pass before one of us called the other. He loved both teaching and flying and loved to visit about his “kids”. He loved each and every one of you. Grant was a loyal friend. When I was getting married, he actually flew out to New Mexico in the middle of a January snow storm to wish us well. Who does that? A great friend named Grant.
Grant you are missed and I wish tender mercies on all of those who were your family. May you find joy reuniting with so many of those you who went before you.
Tina Marie
Posted at 03:20h, 18 JanuaryHe was always our Uncle growing up and thank God for his presence in our lives. Nothing can take the pain of losing you away. Memories we spent together will forever be cherished.
Lynn Hasza-Heintz
Posted at 05:57h, 18 JanuaryBrent. My thoughts are with you. Grant was a classmate at Ho-Hi…. remembering Grant as a pure gentleman and a fun to be around guy. It was such a pleasure to visit with him a few years back when he attended one of our many reunions and special birthday celebrations. I know there’s a special place in heaven for this very special friend. Blessing to you!
Anne Davidson Moscrip
Posted at 07:13h, 18 JanuaryI still have the wall hanging he made for us: Never forget that Anne is a special person.
He would give us homework assignment to look in the mirror and tell ourselves we are special. It took me most of 6th grade to be able to do that.
My life is blessed because of Mr. Averill
Sonya Averill Smith
Posted at 17:36h, 18 JanuaryMy Uncle Grant was such a wonderful, caring person. Although we lived many miles away, he always made a great effort to be a part of our lives. We will always remember him as a fun-loving guy with a big personality. We are so grateful that he was able to make a trip to the East Coast to visit us last March. He will be greatly missed by my entire family.
Arie William Wiglama
Posted at 18:19h, 18 JanuaryI’ve known Grant and his family from the 1950s back in Hobart Indiana. We have shared memories of the City Methodist Church and more recently have visited here at his Bountiful home and mine in Salt Lake City.
He’s met most of my family and found him a warm and dear friend. I’ll miss all the memories we’ve shared and his kind and loving heart.
Raymond and Nancy Averill
Posted at 12:14h, 19 JanuaryGrant was a very positive person with something good to say even in trials. He was very caring for his mother in old age. He would wheel her in a mall or take her for a special treat when she was in a care facility. He tackled hard things and succeeded like graduating from college, nursing the sick, and meeting needs. He was a rare person and will long be remembered.
Nancy Gentry
Posted at 18:26h, 19 JanuaryI met Grant many years ago when my sister Patsy worked at ENMU. We instantly became great friends and always kept in contact. Then in 6th grade my son Clark had him for a teacher. What a lasting impression he made on Clark that year. I had gone through a divorce the year before and Clark was really having a hard time. Grant helped regain confidence in Clark’s life by letting him know he was a special person. He always made the students look him in the eye and shake his hand. He was always positive even in later years when he was sick. I will never forget the wonderful man he was and the wonderful friend he remained. Heaven gained a special man that influenced so many people through the years. He will never be forgotten ! Love you Grant and Mr. A.
Margaret Denis
Posted at 11:58h, 20 January17 years ago we became neighbors with Grant. We instantly became, what he liked to call his “polish” family. Grant was our family and our bestfriend. He was an amazing person, he brought such light to everyone around him. He was so generous and so selfless. There was a time when one of our sons needed help and there was Grant, at the ready sitting on the flight next to him. Grant had a long fight with cancer, and he never let it dull his light. We miss you Grant, spoczywaj w spokoju
Robert G. Taylor
Posted at 13:51h, 20 JanuaryThe world lost an incredible individual when Grant succumbed to his illness. As faculty, I met Grant in during the years of his studies at Eastern New Mexico University. His outward personality and love towards others caused us to become friends, a friendship which lasted the years. His kindness towards others, his humor and skill at always making others feel special were identifying characteristics I wish we all could emulate. They endeared to him most who he came in contact with. In our twilight years, I was always a phone call away to help him along our mutual journey as we carried out our battle with our similar terminal affliction. He was a great person and I’m truly proud to have known him and been his friend. Bob.
Tasha Healey
Posted at 12:56h, 21 JanuaryYou always think of an Uncle as an extension of family. I found my Uncle Grant to be one of my closest and dearest friends. He talked me through things with kindness and support. It brings tears to my eyes he is no longer with us. He will always be in my heart. He will be sorely missed by many. I love you always.
Judy Tolle
Posted at 14:40h, 23 JanuaryMy heart is broken with the loss of my dearest friend who was closer than a brother to me! Grant was a wonderful man, very loving and caring,and a great encourager! He was always so enthusiastic and made everyone he came in contact with, feel very special!! He fought so valiantly and remained positive throughout his cancer journey! We gave him a devotional book called, “Jesus Calling.” He would call us every evening and read that day’s message to us until he became too weak! We talked a lot about heaven and I’m so thankful to know that is where our precious friend is now. I know he’s singing his heart out with that choir of angels! I can just picture his face full of so much joy to be reunited with so many of his loved ones and they were waiting with opened arms to welcome him home!! Bert and I shared so many fun times with Grant and have precious memories we will always cherish!! I love you with all my heart, Grant!! I will see you again!! RIP my beloved brother and friend!!
Jade Crown
Posted at 19:14h, 23 JanuaryThere is no ocean deep nor mountain high enough to encompass the depth and breadth of Grant’s joyful and loving heart. How I loved his uncommon compassion and exuberant appreciation for people. When the going got tough, he’d reach into his bottomless bag of hilarious stories and suddenly, the sun was shining again.
Grant, you have done in one lifetime what many would have taken several to leave such an indelible impression on all the people whose lives you’ve touched. You are a masterpiece. I love you, Grant! May your Angel wings cover your loved ones until we meet again.
Lynn (Sissy) Carlson Larsen
Posted at 21:52h, 04 FebruaryI was blessed to know Grant as a child and as an adult. He was a wonderful person. He will be missed by all..
Bert Tolle
Posted at 13:10h, 09 FebruaryI had no idea how much my life would change when I got my teaching job in Clovis, New Mexico and I met Grant. We taught school together, and developed a wonderful friendship! From our school talent show where Grant and I were Kenny and Dolly, to him fixing breakfast for us on our patio, putting our above ground pool together on a windy night, many Christmas celebrations together, playing tennis, both of us falling on the ice in the middle of our parking lot and making snow angels as we laughed, and driving the senior scooters and racing in Crest grocery store. Our girls called him “Uncle Grant” and he attended Stephanie’s piano recitals and Tina’s basketball games. We had a wonderful time when we visited Grant in Utah in 2019 and we got to see so many beautiful sights. He is such an amazing host, we felt like we were at a bed and breakfast. Several years ago we sent Grant a devotional book called ” Jesus Calling” and he would call us every night and read it to us until he became too sick. We shared so many wonderful memories, and we laughed and cried together (mostly laughed and laughed!” I love and miss you Grant!! Thank you for the love and friendship we shared together. Priceless memories! Be looking for us because we will be joining you in heaven some day!! RIP my dear friend and brother!!
Eric Holmes
Posted at 15:14h, 09 FebruaryI had the pleasure of knowing Grant first as a fellow educator the as a great friend. He touched the lives and hearts of many, many people. He was a natural and gifted teacher who brought everything to life in the classroom with his students enjoying every day. He is deeply missed.
Larry Drury
Posted at 10:39h, 10 FebruaryI lived across the street from Grant and Brett. When ever he saw me in my yard he would stop and chat. In spite of his health problems we always had some laughs and talked easily.. He always made me feel like I was a part of our neighborhood and went out of his way to make sure I was invited to his and Bretts parties.
I admired him for his determination to live his best life right up to the end in spite of his poor health.
With him gone I guess his neighbors and myself will have to put our own garbage cans away on Thursday morning 🙂
I am happy to have known you and I will miss you Grant.
Larry