Dolores Grantham

Dolores Grantham, 86 years old passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home on July 24, 2016, in San Diego, California.  She was surrounded by family and close friends.

Dolores was born, December 18, 1929 in Portland, Oregon the fourth and final child of William Werner Schmidt and Madona Stout. She was apparently in a hurry to enter this world and was consequently born in the family bath tub.  In 1930 she received a blessing from David O. McKay and grew up as an active member of the Mormon Church. Dolores graduated early in January 1947 from Jefferson High School in Portland. In 1948 she won a Stake speaking competition and was also crowned Queen of the Gold & Green Ball.  That same year she joined her sister, Virginia, at BYU in Provo. After a year, she went to work for The Amalgamated Sugar Company where she met and subsequently married John Henry Grantham on December 12, 1952. At the age of 23 she became a step mother to John’s two children, Lloyd age 10 and Carol age 13.  Dolores went to work for First Security Bank and within a couple of years the children were living with them in Ogden, Utah. A few years later their only child, Marta, was born.

Dolores went to work for the Department of Workforces (unemployment office) when Marta went to Nursery School. She worked there approximately 10 years and in 1976 she went to work for Western Mortgage Loan Corporation in Layton. She later transferred to the Ogden office, working for her sister, Virginia, as a Closing Officer until she retired in approximately 1991. Dolores enjoyed her job and was exceptional at it. She developed several close friendships while working there. She left to help take care of her husband during his battle with cancer.  While John spent his last 6 months bed-bound in a care facility, she spent every day from early morning until late at night with him, keeping him company and assisting with his care.  True to her giving & compassionate nature, she constantly helped with and looked in on other patients during her long days there. The nurses and other patients loved her. She always had a kind word and lovely smile to share with everyone. When John passed away on November 16, 1992, Dolores moved to San Diego to begin a new life there, bringing her pet menagerie to live with Marta and her son-in-law, Gary.

When she first moved to San Diego, Dolores kept busy taking care of the house and family. She always enjoyed travelling; European trip with John for business in 1979, annual trips to San Felipe, Mexico, family trips to several countries in Asia, a trip across South America and recently a family reunion cruise to Alaska.  Dolores accompanied Marta on several work trips; New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco and more.  She was occasionally drafted to help Marta with the mortgage-related work.

Dolores is survived by her sister, Virginia Howell Ackerman, her daughter and son-in-law, Marta and Gary McCall, step daughter, Carol Fewell and step son, Lloyd Grantham. Her Utah grandchildren and great grandchildren through Carol and her additional San Diego family which includes her ex-daughter-in-law, Linda Grantham, grandchildren Tim and Guy & Rachel Grantham, and great grandchild Addison through Lloyd. Dolores has always been close to Virginia’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; Scott Howell, Celeste Smith, Cliphane Brough, Brandon, Dustin, Brenda, Jade and Afton Lewis and Casey and Danny Lucas. She has enjoyed a close relationship with other special family members in California and Utah.

Dolores always had a special fondness for Shriner’s Hospital as they helped her family while she was growing up. If you wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, she would be honored to have them be the recipient (shrinershospital.org/donate).

At Dolores’ request there will not be a formal service but there will be another informal memorial open house. It will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 2 to 4 at the Lorin Farr LDS 1st Ward (Stake Center) 480 7th Street, Ogden, Utah.  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.