Joshua Grady

JOSHUA VERN GRADY

1975-2019

Joshua Vernon Grady, aged 44, passed away Friday afternoon, November 1, 2019, at his home in Bountiful, Utah.  Born October 3, 1975, in Charleston, South Carolina, he was the son of the late Darrell Vernon Grady and Patricia Arnett Ringold.

Joshua was an artist and a thinker – skilled in music, song writing, poetry, photography and many other creative pursuits.  Joshua also excelled at skate boarding from middle school well into his 20’s.  He played ‘gigs’ ranging from the Miss Ohio Pageant, to clubs, to coffee shops – and had recently established a presence on SoundCloud as “Mossy Bones.”  Joshua faced many challenges in his too brief voyage around our sun, but attributed his unflagging determination to persevere to his Irish heritage making him “too dumb not to get back up.”

Self-deprecating humor was definitely Joshua, lack of intellect definitely was not.  He wrote copious amounts of exquisitely descriptive, emotionally evocative poetry - and taught himself everything from studio quality digital music production to gallery ready photography.

No respecter of persons or position, Joshua was a gentle soul brimming with a fire to leave the world better than the way he found it. He delighted in exposing beauty in what passes as the mundane, and also found tremendous joy in instigating purpose in castoffs of every genre or genus. Josh had deep gratitude for anything or anyone that connected with him without pretense. His thirst for learning and for sharing knowings was unslakeable, and not much brought a livelier sparkle to his eye more immediately, than good conversation. Joshua loved all of his family and friends with a fierce determination, and with a heart as big as his hugs.

In recent years, Joshua had lived by his clear and often articulated slogan “love and decency”, and it was his deep conviction that if we all followed a Christ-like model of love and decency, most of society’s ills could be cured or prevented.

Joshua practiced love and decency deliberately – seeing and engaging folks who are often overlooked, honoring and championing family, and building a community of friends that spanned the globe.  Joshua refused to rush by a chance to share a kind word, a smile, or a hug – and brought mirth, music, mischief, love, laughs and wonder to every occasion.

Philippians 4:8 was a longtime favorite scripture passage for Josh, reading “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report… think on these things.” (KJV)

As we think on Josh, we celebrate all that he was, and all that he wasn’t.  A rare and precious spark of purity, compassion, generosity, drive, creativity – and most of all indomitable love and decency.

Left to cherish Joshua’s memory are his mother and lifelong sidekick, Patricia Arnett Ringold. His daughter, Kristen Ariel Pollick. His siblings; Amanda Kay Grady, Erin Marie Lemaster, Rodney & Megan Ringold, and Kai Giselle Ringold. Nephews; Isaac Grady, Luke Lemaster, Logan Lemaster, Brayden Ringold, and J.J. Grier. Nieces: Madison Ringold, Lydia Elhelo, Brio Grier - and a great niece, Soraya Grady. The love of his life, Elizabeth Hank. His uncles; Bob Allegretti and Daniel Arnett. His aunts; Pamela Allegretti, Carol Arnett, and Suellen Grady Hendrickson. Cousins:  Kelley Dove, Shane Arnett, Matthew Teaters, Allison Pullum, Melanie Ferguson, Alicia  Ousley, Alexis Parman, Stephanie Garrison, Ronnie Garrison, Deric Hendrickson, Kyle Hendrickson, and Mindy Milburn.

Joshua was blessed to have many longstanding friendships, and treasured them. He is also much missed by Chloe, his best fur friend. Joshua was preceded to heaven by beloved uncles Ron Arnett, John Grady – and his main man, Grandpa Boone Arnett.

His celebration of life will be held at 3pm on Sunday, November 17, 2019, in the Tribal Room at Mohican Lodge (1098 Ashland County Road 3006, Perrysville, Ohio). Care entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com.