Grant Parsons Duey, 67, Boise, Idaho, passed away on the morning of Friday, May 16, 1997 in Montpelier, Idaho. He was on his way to his fiftieth class reunion in Chester, NE.

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at Dry Creek Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Alden-Waggoner Chapel.

Grant was born July 11, 1929 in Chester, NE, to Frederick Carl Duey and Ruth Amelia Parsons Duey. Grant grew up on a farm in Chester and attended the Chester Public Schools. He graduated from Chester High School in 1947. He participated in track, football and vocal music events.

Grant met and married the "love of his life" Marilyn Joe (sic) Ehlers, on October 8, 1952 in Fairbury, NE. Grant assisted his father with the farm and the registered Polled Hereford operation, and during this time, maintained other jobs in the Chester and Deshler areas which included driving trucks, maintaining the weigh station in Chester and working at a service station in Deshler, NE. In 1970, when the farming operation shut down, he took the opportunity to move his family to Boise, Idaho, where he worked as a service manager for Larry Barnes Chevrolet until his retirement in 1980. Grant enjoyed the out-of-doors, the fishing and mountain scenery Idaho offered and he wanted to share this opportunity with his family. He was always proud to show friends and relatives the beautiful home and state in which he resided.

He will best be remembered by family and friends for his fun loving spirit, his stories and the "special" songs he taught to his grandchildren. He was a sentimental and thoughtful husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all. Some of his favorite activities were smoking turkeys, fish and wild game; sharing stories with friends, and spending time with is grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; a daughter, Gayle Hess, Hanford, CA, and her children, Christine, Bethany and Daniel, California; his son, Richard, Boise and his son, Peter; a daughter, Jennifer Ysursa and her husband, Luis, Boise and their children, Anna, Emilie and Nickolas; and a daughter, LaRue Duey and her daughters, Elizabeth and Jacqueline, Boise; his brothers, Dale Duey, Chandler, AZ, and Allan Duey, Longmont, CO; his sisters, Laurel Ambrose, Ashland, Oregon, Carmen Moore, Boise, and Marcia Weary, Green River, AZ, and many nieces and nephews.

Grant chose the following poem to share his feelings with friends and family.

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day. To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way I found peace at the start of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss. Oh yes these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much. Good friends, good times and a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief. Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee. God wanted me now. He set me free!

Chester Herald, unknown date