James Edward Grant

James Edwin Grant, 91, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away peacefully at this residence on June 2, 2026. He was born on February 4, 1935, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Lewis Edward and Mary Loretta (Thompson) Grant. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Terry (Legg) Grant in 2021; his first wife, Sara Lynn (Snodgrass) Grant in 1996; his stepdaughter, Amber Dawn Kelly in 2004; and his niece Kristin (Myrick) Ilac, in 2016. Jim lived a life marked with kindness, entrepreneurship, business sense, and strength. He’ll be remembered by all who knew him as a loving, kind, and thoughtful man.

Jim grew up in Shawnee Oklahoma and served as a page in the Oklahoma State Capital in 1949, attended the Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA) for several years in Claremore OK, and graduated from Joplin High School in Missouri in 1953. Following high school, he served his country in the Marine U.S. Corps for four years during the Korean War. Upon his return he then served as an officer with the Joplin Police Department for 2 years. He worked with Standard Brands of Carthage Missouri during the invention of electric refrigeration, and was owner/operator of Joplin Zero Storage, and created Grant/Western trucking. He then worked for many years as a regional salesman with SEITZ corporation throughout the midwest. He moved to Florida in 1985 where he helped start a company that removed asbestos from ships and businesses for 7 years in the Tampa Bay area. In 1992, he began managing large, manufactured home communities with his wife, Terry, and served with professionalism, integrity, and dedication throughout Florida from Tampa (Winward Lakes), Ocala (Oak Bend), Palm Beach Gardens (The Meadows), Ft. Myers (Rivers Edge), and Daytona Beach (Pickwick Village) until his retirement in 2006. He and his wife moved to Clearwater in 2011 and made it their home until his passing last week.

Outside work, he served as PTA president during his children’s school years, was a member of the Elks Club, and managed his son’s baseball teams over the many summers while his two sons played ball. Later, he loved to travel and sail with Terry throughout the Caribbean Islands, collecting art, reading and writing poetry and became a movie buff later in years.

He is survived by his sister, Marsha McLaulin (Douglas) of Lakeland FL; his oldest son, Christopher E. Grant (Terri) of McKinney, Texas; his son Steven R. Grant (Darla) of Joplin, Missouri; his daughter, Leslie D. Grant-Cross of Lake Worth, FL; his stepson, Michael Kelly (Kay); and his 10 grandchildren, Ashley, Alex, Sydney, Kyle, Skylar, Tyson, Marylynn, Sara, Kattie, Jane; and 11 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Jordan, Mason, Jaxson, Elijah, Opal, Wynter, Dawson, Beckham, Isla, and Cove; his nephew Jason Hall (Kerrie), as well as many grandnieces, grandnephews, step grandchildren and a loving extended family.

Jim's life will be remembered on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 11 AM with a graveside service at the Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland, FL. Marine Corps funeral honors will be provided. Rev. Dr. Zac McGowen will officiate.