Grady Ralston Lovelady

Grady Ralston Lovelady of Mesquite, NV was born on October 19, 1934 in El Paso, TX, and died on April 14, 2011 at the age of 76 in Las Vegas, NV.

He was a journeyman, welder, mechanic and plumber, and could fix anything. He was a good soccer player and loved coaching women's soccer, which he did for 17 years. Grady started working in a blacksmith shop in San Diego, CA at the age of 14 until he was in his early twenties. Then he installed water softeners and did plumbing until the Army called in 1958. He spent his time in the Army in France, running the depot maintenance building, rebuilding heavy equipment. After his discharge he went back to San Diego, where he met his wife while selling vacuum cleaners in 1960. He became a longshoreman for the ILWU as a mechanic at the Port of San Diego. He retired from there after 40 years. In 1990, he took a second job because it was a challenge, where he was involved in every aspect of designing, building, and running a nitrate chemical fertilizer bagging plant. He and his wife moved to Mesquite full time in 2005 when he retired for the second time.

Grady loved to fish, hike, kayak, ski, bike, run and bowl. Grady was a wonderful, loving husband to his wife for 51 years. A great father, father-in-law, and a really good friend to those who were privileged to know him in San Diego and Mesquite.

Grady is survived by his wife Sarah Fran, his son Brady Lovelady of San Diego, a daughter Rejan Washburn of Santee, CA, 6 grandchildren: Ashley, Amber, and Angela Lovelady, Ariel, Garret, and Lexi Washburn, and ex daughter-in-law Dawn Hedgecoth, her husband John Hedgecoth, and their daughter Shannyn of El Cajon, CA. He was preceded in death by his father Dayton, his mother Jorji, and three brothers, Bruce, Berwin, and Graham, and a beloved daughter Sue Ann.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 3:00 PM at Virgin Valley Mortuary. Arrangements have been entrusted to Virgin Valley Mortuary and the family has invited you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.virginvalleymortuary.com