Obituary of Marie Constance Grant

Marie was born in Notting Hill, London to Alfred and Constance Butcher. She had one younger brother, Ken, whom she dearly loved. Although her childhood was marked by the hardships of World War II, she still managed to matriculate from the prestigious Godolphin and Latimer school in Hammersmith. She later went on to join the Royal English Navy. She was always an avid traveler and took a job working for a travel agency in London. After the death of her mother, she moved to New York City to open their new office. While there she met the love of her life, John Grant. They were married in November 1955 and she began a new chapter of life as an Air Force wife. Having been previously widowed, John had two small children, Kathleen and Michael. Marie helped to raise them as well as having two daughters of her own, Laura and Amanda. During John’s military career, the family lived in many places across the country, most notably Kansas, Florida, Maine, California and New Mexico. In 1969 he retired from service and in 1970 the family moved to Australia, where Marie was able to reunite with some of her beloved family members who had moved there when she had moved to the U.S. It was to be an adventure lasting several years before returning to the United States and settling in the Seattle area. After many years spent taking care of her family, Marie returned to work, first working at Hitco, an aeronautical supply firm and then at Boeing where she remained until she retired in 1987. Throughout her life, Marie maintained her love of traveling which she shared with her husband and friends. Together they took many trips, touring Europe and China, returning home to England and vacationing in Mexico to name a few. Marie was a highly skilled seamstress and made many clothes for her children growing up. She also won awards for her beautiful "fisherman knit" sweaters which she made for her family. Those who knew her well will remember her for her love of the theatre, dining out, drinking wine and puttering in her garden which always contained pots of fuchsias and rose bushes. She enjoyed volunteer work and worked as a reading tutor as well as giving her time to the USO. Marie passed away quietly at home on August 21,2009 after a two year battle with ALS. Throughout her life she was fortunate enough to enjoy good health and was a model of strength and dignity until the end. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Keith), Michael (Shieko), Laura (Bob) and Amanda (Tom). She was also very proud grandmother "Nana" to Kristina, Helena, Katrina, Isabella and Sophia as well as great grandmother to Roman. She was preceded in death by her parents Constance and Alfred, brother Ken, husband John, stepmother Eileen, cousin Monica and grandsons Matthew and James. The family wishes to thank her loving caregivers Christina Kuell, Maggie Friant, Sandra Smith, Doris Kramer and the Providence Hospice team, most especially Gail, Joanne, Michelle and Carlos. Very special thanks to Sonja Zimmer of the ALS Association who is truly a bright light among us. At her request no memorial service is planned, and memorial tributes can be made to the ALS Association.