Grant, Kenneth "Kenny" Obituary

Grant, Kenneth "Kenny" attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Grant, Kenneth "kenny".

Graduation Year	Class of 1966
Date of Passing	Dec 17, 2020
About	Kenneth Ray Grant Sr. A longtime Elk Grove, CA resident Kenneth Ray Grant Sr. 72, went to be with his family in heaven on December 17th, 2020. Kenneth was born on February 21, 1948 in Sacramento, CA to Turner Grant Sr. and Pansy Grant. Ken attended Elk Grove High School and graduated in 1966. He married Sophia Arlene Pantlick Sheppard in 1967. The same year he was drafted in the United States Army during the Vietnam war. He was assigned to the Military Police and as a frontline jeep gunman. He was honorably discharged after serving in Vietnam. After serving in the Army, Ken worked very hard and saved enough money to open a flooring and interior business with his wife. He was a brilliant businessman and invested wisely the following years. With the help of his brother, sister and wife, Ken built one of the first homes on School Street in Elk Grove, CA in 1977. He loved the sound of the train behind the house he built and lived there until he went to be with Jesus. Ken loved football and the San Francisco 49’ers. He rarely missed a Friday night to see his Elk Grove Thundering Herd play. He even traveled for away games. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family at concerts, rodeos, movies, state fair, county fair, baseball games, Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants Games and he traveled the states for the world of outlaws sprint car races. Ken was a loving husband of 53 years and is survived by his wife Sophia Arlene Grant, by his brother Turner Grant and sister Sharon Grant. He adored his children and leaves behind Kimberly Dawn Grant, Kenneth Ray Jr. (Jennifer) Grant, Julie Elaine Grant and Tiffany Raylene (Brandon) Halley. His stepson Charles Wayne Sheppard Jr. is with him in heaven. He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. His grandchildren were his world. He was a proud Papa/KG and is survived by his Twenty two grandchildren Joshua John, Chelsea Renee, Jordan Jacob, Demi Rae, Charles Wesley, Sophia Dawn, Kenneth Ray 3rd, Jeremiah Joel, Faith La Dawn, Brandon James, Izabella Raylene, Alyssa Rose, Alivia Grace, Grace Rose, Hope Brittany Marie, Carter James, Dawson Lewis, Joy Daisy, Delilah Pearl, Barry, Summer and Ashalee. Three great grandchildren Savanna Faith, Tristin Wesley and Maverick Joshua John. If you knew Ken, you knew how much he loved his family. He made sure to call daily just to chat. He was the best coach, loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He was full of wisdom and always had good advice. He had a great sense of humor, a quick wit and always had a joke to make you smile or laugh! He had the biggest heart and was always willing to help someone in need. He was a man of integrity and would keep his word on a simple handshake. Ken loved his country and was the definition of a true Patriot! He was very intelligent and didn’t need a calculator while working with numbers. He had an impeccable memory! He never needed to look at a picture to remember things that happened in his life. He could tell you a story in detail that had happened to him as young as two years old. He was sharp and his memory was amazing until the day he went to heaven. Family gatherings at his home were his favorite moments. He always looked forward to seeing his family for swim parties, holidays and birthday celebrations. Ken enjoyed sprint car races and trips with his son Ken Jr. and grandsons. He was always there to watch his daughters Kimberly, Julie and Tiffany’s drill team and cheer performances on the football field or at the Western Festival parades. He was a softball coach for his youngest daughter Tiffany and drove all over California and Nevada for softball tournaments on the weekends for many years. Later he coached his granddaughters Izabella, Alyssa, Alivia, Grace and Hope as soon as they were old enough to play ball. He loved watching Chelsea, Sophia, Demi and Faith play softball, basketball or attend their cheer performances. He looked forward to Friday nights when all of his grandchildren would stay at his house and spend weekends with him and GG. He enjoyed helping his granddaughter Izabella raise pigs and rabbits for County Fair. He was always there for Friday night lights and loved watching his grandsons Joshua, Jordan, Jeremiah, Kenny 3rd and Brandon play football for the Elk Grove Thundering Herd. He was proud to hear that Brandon would take the field again at Sac City College. Papa never wanted to miss a triathlon or swim meet for his Olmstead grandchildren. Carter was an Angel in his life. He loved to play games with Maverick and always told him to keep his eye on the ball. Papa drove to Alabama just to see his granddaughter Alivia play softball and his grandson Dawson play baseball. Delilah Pearl and Joy Daisy had him wrapped around their little fingers. He wouldn’t miss grandparents day at Dawson’s school in Alabama so he would take another trip. Ken rarely missed watching his kids and grandkids music concerts, soccer games, dance recitals, baptisms, church or school performances and graduations. He was able to walk his granddaughter, Izabella, down the aisle on her wedding day in Florida in November of 2020. It gave him so much joy to be there with his whole family! He said it was one of the most beautiful weddings he’s ever attended. Ken spent many summers in Santa Cruz, CA., Pacifica, CA., San Francisco, CA., Lake Tahoe, CA., Reno, NV. and Las Vegas, NV. with his wife, kids and grandchildren. The last few years he enjoyed the Florida beaches with his family and friends Chuck and Linda Kasper. Kasper was his best friend from Vietnam. Kenny and Chuck Kasper married their wives in the same chapel on the same day. Growing up Kenny was a gifted athlete. He played football and basketball when he wasn’t working or tending to the cows on the farm. In High School he was the starting tight end and a great receiver. He had many friends and some of his close friends called him Grant. Another one of his nicknames was “Palm Tree” because he was so tall. He met with his “Florin Boys” for lunch and shenanigans two times a year. They always thought he looked like Elvis Presley and Kit Walker. His close friends; Jeannie Larae, Jerry and Linda Bartels, Robert Ward, Charles and Linda Kasper, Henry DeLuna “The Candyman” will miss his laugh and stories. Kenny, Larry Arant, Tom Maculoso and Charles Falcon will forever be known as the four amigos. His cousin, Bobby Grant, and him spent countless hours doing anything they could think of as children. They were closer than brothers. Their family nicknamed them Mut and Jeff. Ken was saved and baptized on the same day as his eldest daughter Kimberly. He loved the Lord and believed in miracles. “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel His mighty power and His grace. I can hear the brush of angels’ wings. I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.” From Kenneth Ray Grant, I love you my family, higher than the heavens! See you soon! Love, Papa His family will lay him to rest on January 15, 2021 11am at East Lawn, Elk Grove Memorial Park 9189 E. Stockton Blvd Elk Grove, CA 95624 All are welcome to attend. - Information from the Elk Grove Citizen Kenneth Ray Grant Sr. February 21, 1948 - December 17, 2020 Elk Grove, California - A Longtime Elk Grove, CA resident Kenneth Ray Grant Sr. 72, went to be with his family in heaven on December 17th, 2020. Kenneth was born on February 21, 1948 in Sacramento, CA to Turner Grant Sr. and Pansy Grant. Ken attended Elk Grove High School and graduated in 1966. He married Sophia Arlene Pantlick Sheppard in 1968. The same year he was drafted in the United States Army during the Vietnam war. He was assigned to the Military Police and as a frontline jeep gunman. He was honorably discharged after serving in Vietnam. After serving in the Army, Ken worked very hard and saved enough money to open a flooring and interior business with his wife. He was a brilliant businessman and invested wisely the following years. With the help of his brother, sister and wife, Ken built one of the first homes on School Street in Elk Grove, CA in 1977. He loved the sound of the train behind the house he built and lived there until he went to be with Jesus. Ken was a loving husband of 53 years and is survived by his wife Sophia Arlene Grant, by his brother Turner Grant and sister Sharon Grant. He adored his children and leaves behind Kimberly Dawn Grant, Kenneth Ray Jr. (Jennifer) Grant, Julie Elaine Grant and Tiffany Raylene (Brandon) Halley. His stepson Charles Wayne Sheppard Jr. is with him in heaven. He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. His grandchildren were his world. He was a proud Papa/KG and is survived by his Twenty two grandchildren Joshua John, Chelsea Renee, Jordan Jacob, Demi Rae, Charles Wesley, Sophia Dawn, Kenneth Ray 3rd, Jeremiah Joel, Faith La Dawn, Brandon James, Izabella Raylene, Alyssa Rose, Alivia Grace, Grace Rose, Hope Brittany Marie, Carter James, Dawson Lewis, Joy Daisy, Delilah Pearl, Barry, Summer and Ashalee. Three great grandchildren Savanna Faith, Tristin Wesley and Maverick Joshua John. Ken was saved and baptized on the same day as his eldest daughter Kimberly. He loved the Lord and believed in miracles. His family will lay him to rest on January 15, 2021. - Information from the Sacramento Bee