Gideon Grass

Gideon Grass – Mighty Warrior

Gideon Asher Grass, son of John Mahlon and Sarah Lynn Terhune Grass, was born on November 30, 2010 in Logan, Utah.  Gideon passed away as a warrior fighting cancer on May 9, 2016.

Gideon was a sweet boy who was a friend to everybody.  His four older brothers Isaac, Jaron, Malachi, and Elijah, all spent great time with him, and Gideon loved playing with them and their friends.  Gideon was one of the most popular kids on the block!  He was careful and gentle with his one little sister, Genevieve, who loved playing with him and was quick to follow his lead.  At bedtime they would often sneak quietly out of the room and down the hall and attempt to get past the watchful eyes of their parents.  Sometimes they were successful and would be found playing with their big brothers.  Other times they would stay in their room, and Gideon would tell Genna to turn on the lights.  Then they would read books together or jump on beds.  He always went to sleep wrapped in his special BYU blanket.

Gideon was born with some challenges.  Labor was difficult and the cord was wrapped around his neck twice, which made the birth traumatic, but Gideon fought through it.  He had low muscle tone, but nobody would have guessed.  He made up for what he lacked physically with a strong will.  Gideon loved to zoom around on his big wheel and would do anything his older brothers could do.  When the scouts were completing a personal fitness merit badge he would run with them and do situps and pushups.  He was very flexible and easily beat the scout records for a sit-and-reach flexibility test.  Gideon wasn’t yet Scout age, but he loved to come to all scout meetings and camp with his brothers.  At a recent Cub Scout Pack Meeting he was made an honorary Cub Scout, given a scout vest and awards, and knighted “Sir Kind”.  When the family went rock climbing he would climb and had to be a finisher.  He knew and would tell you, “Grasses do hard things”.

Gideon showed great wisdom in his youth.  He required very specific, adult-level answers to his questions, whether about science, language, games, or medicine.

He asked about how things worked and got involved in his brothers’ science fair projects.  He watched and learned from them, even learning to read and write.  He recently read a scripture in Elijah’s Sunday School class, keeping up with others twice his age.  His signature, written in his own hand, is a special memento for his mother.  He learned French from her and played animal bingo in French, causing her to sometimes look up the names of some of the animals (peacock?) she didn’t know.  He was good at Battleship and other strategy games.  He wanted to know how every chess piece moved and how to play the game.  He learned the rules and wouldn’t accept a “gimme” because he was young or sick.  He liked playing a racing game with his Dad, helped design one of the race cars, and put “GIDEON” on the license plate.

He always wanted to know what the doctors and nurses were doing, and he kept track.  He knew when it was time to take the next pill and how to connect his IV tubing.  He wore a mask even when it was hot and uncomfortable because he knew it was important to protect his health.  He knew the names of his medicines – even the long names like Dexamethasone.  He worked off a checklist and knew he would always be an A++, getting all of his “have-to’s” done even when he was sick and tired and didn’t want to.

Gideon was often shy around strangers, but when he felt good and made a friend he would laugh and play and be fun to be with.  Some of his older brothers’ friends were some of his best friends.  They would build Legos, climb trees, devour Otter Pops, play basketball and night games.

The family expresses profound appreciation for so many who have lent support during Gideon’s journey: family, friends, neighbors, Primary Children's Hospital staff, Harmony Bluff Ward, IFA, Davis County Ballroom, and many others around the world who have followed his story. This journey would have been more trying without their love and support. Gideon’s mission on earth would have been much more difficult without the faith and prayers of so many.

Gideon is survived by his parents, John and Sarah, his siblings, Isaac, Jaron, Malachi, Elijah, and Genevieve, all his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many other extended family.  He will be deeply missed by all!

Funeral services will be held in Gideon’s honor on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Harmony Bluff Ward, 3065 South Bluff Road, Syracuse, Utah.  Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Lindon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to www.curesearch.org.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com