Joseph "Joe" Francis Grates Jr.

Joe was born on November 8, 1973 in Herkimer, New York to Joseph F. Grates, Sr. and Maryjane Erb (Parsons). He graduated Herkimer High School in 1991. On March 20, 1997 he met his future wife, Ami L. Hardy and on May 20, 2006 with their family and friends present, they were married. Together they raised their fur babies: Herbie, Scooter, Jeter and Moe.

Joe had a passion for trading stocks and options, recently retiring from his full time job to pursue his passion. Joe also had a passion for baseball and had an extensive baseball collection including cards and memorabilia. He shared his passion for the game with Ami and together they watched a home game in every current baseball stadium in America as well as many former stadiums totaling 33 stadium visits. He also had a passion for music which took the couple on some adventures to see bands like Metallica, DMB, The Foo Fighters, Aerosmith and the Eagles. He also loved to travel and hike- recently he and Ami traveled to Utah, California and Las Vegas. He was known for his quick wit, intelligence, infectious smile and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Joe was preceded in death by his grandmother, Pauline and his best fur baby, Herbie.

He is survived by his wife, Ami; their three fur children, Scooter, Jeter and Moe; his father, Joseph; mother, Maryjane; a mother in law who loved him as her own, Kathleen (Trina) Lynch; father in law, Lyndon Hardy; siblings, Terri and William as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.