Mary Grant, 70

Mary Grant, 70

Mary Ellen (Ford) Grant, 70, died Friday, July 14, 2017, at Schneidmiller Hospice House of North Idaho. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born in Coeur d’Alene, June 6, 1947. Her parents were Gertrude (Cameron) and Charles D. Ford.

She grew up in the Fort Grounds and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School. As a girl, she was a member of Theta Rho and enjoyed swimming, water skiing and other Fort Grounds and lake/beach activities.

In 1968, she married Harold “Buzz” Magnuson. They had three children, Debbie, Jeff and Amie. They started dating when Mary was 16 and they were married for more than 20 years. Mary loved the Magnuson family very much and kept in contact after their amicable divorce.

In 1994, she married Don Burgess. They loved to travel and go to the car races. They were married two years before he died in 1996.

She and Cecil Grant were married in 2013. They loved to travel and went camping often. They went on many vacations including Hawaii and a cruise to Alaska. Cecil and Mary had a very loving marriage and Cecil lovingly took care of Mary during the three years that she was sick with cancer. Even though her time with him was short, she loved him and his family very much.

Mary was a longtime member of the Rebekkahs. She also held various positions and offices with the Eagles Auxiliary, both at the Coeur d’Alene and state levels. Mary worked at Northwest Machine for more than 20 years until retiring in 2014 after her cancer diagnosis. Mary enjoyed camping, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved all holidays and decorating for them. All of her children and grandchildren had a really special place in her heart. She always went above and beyond for them, they did annual school clothes shopping, Christmas shopping and the girls had special jobs at Christmas to prepare for dinner.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Debbie Fritze and husband Don Burgess. She is survived by husband Cecil Grant; her children, Jeff Magnuson, and Amie and Jason (husband) Vessar; grandchildren Stephanie and Andrew Fritze, Makayla Magnuson, and Logan and Paige Vessar; and great-grandsons Ryker and Keatan. She is also survived by sisters JoAnn Glaser, Helen Johnson and Terri Mathis; brother Doug Ford and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service date and information will be decided and announced at a later date. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Mary’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

The family has requested memorial donations be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.