ST. GEORGE, UT - Grant Empey, 97, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, passed away September 4, 2002 in Peach Tree Place Assisted Living Community from causes incident to age, which were further complicated by a fall suffered in June.
He was born Jan 27, 1905 in St. George, the tenth of thirteen children, to Heber Fielding and Josephine Bryner Empey. His parents and all twelve brothers and sisters preceded him in death. He married Mary Ruby Coon Aug 13, 1929 in Tooele, UT, later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple; she pre-ceded him in death June 13, 1990.
Grant was raised in St. George and was on the Dixie High School basketball team which won the Utah state championship in 1925. Worked at the Utah Copper mine and played for the mine basketball team in Bingham, UT until the Great Depression of 1929. He then worked at the salt plant at Saltair, UT for the Royal Crystal Salt Company and the Morton Salt Company until he retired in 1970.
In 1934, he was accidentally burned by electricity while painting a substation and suffered permanent injury to his right foot, which eventually resulted in its amputation. At that time, his daughter and her husband took him into their home and provided care in West Valley City, UT. When they retired and moved to St. George in 1994, he returned with them to the city of his birth. He lived with them until his fall in June. He was an active member of the LDS Church in his younger years and held various callings.
He is survived by two children, Laren (Pat) Empey, Tuscon, AZ, Vaudis (Ken) Bates, St. George, UT; five grandchildren, David (Tina) Empey, Franktown, CO, Marla (Tom) Berry, Tuscon, AZ, Lori (Chris) Kochevar, Littleton, CO, Sandy Hunt, Macedonia, OH, Ron Bates, Anaheim, CA; six great-grand-children, Eric, Elizabeth Empey, Matthew, Malinda Berry, Rachel, Joseph Kochevar; many nieces, nephews, and friends. He also enjoyed the love and companionship of the family pet, Carrie.
There will be a visitation Fri. Sept 6, 6-8 p.m., Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd., and Mon. Sept 9, 10-11:45 a.m. prior to services at the Peel Funeral Home. Services will be Mon. Sept 9, 2002, 12 noon, Peel Funeral Home, 8525 W. 2700 S, Magna, UT, 84044. Interment, Valley View Memorial Cemetery, West Valley City, UT.
The family wishes to express its gratitude to the staff and care givers at Peach Tree Place and the Southern Utah Hospice for the loving care provided to Grant during his stay there. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the charity of your choice. Published in the Salt Lake Tribune (UT) on Sunday, September 8, 2002.