James Benson Grant's Obituary
James (Jim) Benson Grant, 74, of Clearwater, FL, formerly of Auburn, ME, died peacefully after a two-and-a-half-year battle with ALS at Suncoast Hospice Care Center in St. Petersburg, FL, on Monday, January 6, 2020, with his family by his side.
Born in Lewiston, ME, on September 15, 1945, Jim was the son of the late Benson Girou Grant and Arlene Evelyn (Macomber) Grant. He grew up in Auburn, ME, where he graduated from Edward Little High School in 1964. He married his beloved wife, Jeannette Blanche Caron, on January 11, 1969. They raised two children, and after retirement they moved to Florida in 2001.
Jim was employed for many years as a machine operator at Philips Elmet (now Elmet Technologies) in Lewiston, ME. But his passion was for cooking and baking, not only at home, but also working in family-owned businesses, including Grant’s Bakery in Lewiston, ME, and G. & H. Caterers in Auburn, ME. In retirement he was the main cook on Mondays at St. Vincent de Paul Community Kitchen in Clearwater.
Jim had a lifelong involvement in fraternal organizations. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 111 in Auburn, ME, where he attained the rank of Life. He attained the sixth degree (Flora) in the Maine State Grange (Order of Patrons of Husbandry). He was a fourth-generation Mason, a Past Master of Ashlar Lodge No. 105, A.F. & A.M., in Auburn, ME, a member of the Scottish and York Rite bodies in Auburn and Portland, ME, and of Kora Shrine Temple in Lewiston, ME, where he was a very active member of the Kora Arab Patrol with his father, brother, two uncles, and two cousins. He was also a “Dad” advisor of Knights of the Sun Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in Auburn, ME.
Jim was a former member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Dunedin, where, together with Jeannette, he was a Eucharistic minister to patients in hospitals and nursing homes. He later joined St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater. On March 15, 2008, Jim and Jeannette became professed members of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. Jim served as minister of the Fraternity for six years, and as a regional councilor for three years.
In addition to his wife, Jim’s memory will live on through his children, Jason Benjamin Grant and wife Gretchen of Concord, MA, and Jenniffer Beth Perron of Pownal, ME; five grandchildren: Colby, Morgan, Garrett, and Wyatt Perron, and Clara Grant; one brother, Richard Grant and wife Kathy of Lewiston, ME; one uncle, Alden Macomber and wife Peggy of Auburn, ME; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Jim’s family thanks the staff of the Bayfront Health TICU in St. Petersburg, and Dr. Carol Li and her team at Suncoast Hospice for their loving care and compassion.
A funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, January 9, at 2:00 PM, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater, FL.
A celebration of life will be held in Maine at a TBD date.
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