COLUMBIA – A wonderful woman left this world today, Dec. 2, 2008. In her words, “she could hardly wait until she got to see Kenneth.” She was happier today than she was yesterday. Inez Grant was born Feb. 26, 1921, in Eastport. At 87 years old, she passed on today ready for the next stage of life. She looked forward to meeting her maker and revisiting with those who had passed on before her. When you get to a certain time in your life, as much as you love those that are around you, those that have passed are more constantly in your thoughts. Her early life had been a tough one, losing her mother and father at a young age. Originally from Eastport, she came to live in Columbia as a young girl to be raised by the Puffer family as a companion to Sara, the only daughter of John and Edith Puffer, whom she grew to know as Mama and Papa! She grew up in the home where she lived her entire life, which as a child was the Puffer farm on Littleriver. She was a very strong student in school excelling in most subjects, competing with Alden Worcester for the top spot in her class. She always told of walking to school with the Worcester boys. She was a senior when she fell in love with, as she put it, the most handsome boy in school, Clyde Mahan. They were married shortly after graduation and had three children, Richard, Nancy and Rodney. She was a young mother of three when Clyde was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and passed away at 25. Shortly after his passing, their four-year-old son, Rodney, died while having his tonsils removed. She later fell in love with Ken Grant and after dating for 10 years they were married June 20, 1954, in Massachusetts, with permission from her children. Inez took great pride in her flower and vegetable gardens. She was well known for her beautiful bouquets and could always be seen manicuring the flowerbeds to perfection. She wrote many wonderful articles for Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine. She was particularly proud of having one cover photo of two of her grandsons and a big bowl of her home grown potatoes. She always looked forward eagerly for the start of the next growing season. Inez is survived by her children, Richard Mahan and his wife, Linda, and Nancy Merritt and her husband, Walter; grandchildren, Sonny Beal, Rodney Merritt, Paula Johnson, Richard Mahan II, Elizabeth Bartlett and Teresa Vassilev; 11 great-grandchildren, Candace, Cassie, Daniel, Adrianne, Cody, Camon, Tiffany, Christopher, Ryan, Ricky, and Rachel; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her first husband, Clyde Mahan; a son, Rodney Mahan; her second husband, Ken Grant; two grandchildren, Victoria Seaber and Gordon Mahan; and one sister, Sarah Davis. She will be missed by many special friends. Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Machias, where a funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Burial will be at Columbia Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a time of fellowship and refreshments after the service at the Columbia Town Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to Ark Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 276, Cherryfield, ME 04622. www.bragdonkelley.com
INEZ GRANT
