Grady Alexander Whitson

Grady Alexander Whitson, age 27, passed away on December 21, 2023 in Missoula, Montana where he had recently moved and started a new job as an Outdoor Activities Guide. He was born on April 11, 1996 in Indianapolis, Indiana and spent his childhood living in Carmel and Zionsville, Indiana. He attended St. Luke’s United Methodist Church with his family and was a member of the children’s choir. As he grew his love for singing also grew; he became a member of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir during his teenage years. Traveling with the choir gave him an opportunity to sing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Although he was a classically trained singer he also enjoyed being a lead vocalist at the local School of Rock. Not afraid of being the front man, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to perform on the big stage of the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He dabbled in local musical theater with roles in “Oliver”, “The Civil War”, and “Les Miserables”. Being in the great outdoors was his passion. After high school he moved to Colorado to work, explore and attend college. He graduated from Colorado Mountain college with a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and obtained certification as a Wilderness First Responder. Work took him to the boundary waters of Minnesota and resort ranches in Colorado. When he wasn’t working, enjoying the great outdoors or spending time with friends he would be studying maps and learning about the history and geography of the world. Grady was preceded in death by his older brother Michael Washburn, his grandparents Marian Whitson, Edward Whitson, George Washburn, Isadore Shapiro, Helen Shapiro, his Uncle Barry Washburn, Aunt Vicki Callan and Aunt Wendy Drews. He is survived by loving family which include his parents William Whitson, M.D. and Deborah Washburn, his twin brother Spencer Whitson, sister Jillian Whitson, sister Jenevieve (Washburn) Doss, brother-in-law William Doss, nephew Skyler Doss, Nieces Madeline and Isabella Doss, and his grandmother Joyce Washburn. He will be missed by many family members and friends. We will all remember his handsome big smile, his warm and generous heart, and his ability to make people laugh. His funeral will be held on December 30, 2023 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 86th Street, Indianapolis Indiana at 3:00 p.m. with a visitation at 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/ or the National Forest Foundation tree plantings efforts in his memory https://www.nationalforests.org/.