Benjamin Richard Grandy, Jr.

Benjamin Richard Grandy Jr, 81 of Boise, Idaho died peacefully in his sleep at his home on Oct. 8, 2024. Born in Spokane, Washington, Ben graduated from Chelan High school. At Chelan High school, he lettered in basketball and his team went to the state championship his senior year. During his youth, Ben worked as a farmer, logger, and a firefighter putting out forest fires. He then joined the Navy, where he served for nine years and rose to the rank of First Class Petty Officer. In the Navy, Ben was an electronic technician and instrument technician and worked to maintain Naval ships and submarines. Ben was stationed at Naval Station Rota, where he fell in love with Spain and learned to speak the language fluently. After the Navy, Ben continued as an electrician and mechanical technician working on oil rigs in faraway places like the Mediterranean and North Sea, West Africa, Argentina, and off the coasts of Mexico, India, Thailand, Indonesia, China, and Borneo. After working in the oil industry, Ben lived and sailed in his 30’ sloop, Nemesis. He sailed Nemesis from Galveston, Texas to Cabbage Key, Florida through the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway. In the end, Ben’s favorite job was selling used cars. It gave him a chance to tell and hear wonderful stories. Ben was a “can-do” fellow with a knack for fixing things. He was also a voracious reader and was always working on a book. Ben is survived by sons: Benjamin and Keawe; wife, Lezlie, and brothers: Michael, Boyd, and Robert. He will be laid to rest the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho with military honors.