Randy Grimes Sr.

Randy was born September 20, 1942 to Frank and Lucille Grimes in Lyons, Kansas. He was the oldest of three children, then came Robert and Richard. Randy’s dad was an engineer for Phillips Petroleum Company, which took their family all over the US.

Their family eventually relocated and settled in Spokane, WA where he graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1960. After High School, Randy began working at Deaconess Hospital as a surgery technician. He also attended Spokane Community College: studying drafting, mechanics and automotive.

When Randy met Nancy Clasen, a nursing student also at Deaconess Hospital, his big brown eyes and wavy black hair swept her off her feet. After their first trip to Priest Lake, ID for a weekend boating trip with friends, she knew he was the one. It was a whirlwind romance consisting of weekend trips with friends to any nearby lake and more fun than Nancy had ever known. They were married July 11th 1964 at Wiley Heights Covenant Church.

In their first year together, Randy and Nancy had many adventures in the mountains as well as regular water skiing and boating trips. After that first year in Spokane, Randy had the opportunity to open a Phillips 66 Gas Station in Salt Lake City, UT. After three years of running a successful business, he missed the Northwest so much, he sold the gas station and they returned to Spokane. He then opened his second service station in 1968 and Randy and Nancy bought their first home on Northwest Blvd. Not long after, they had their first of two children. Randy Lee Jr was born Jan. 6, 1969 in a snowstorm.

In 1971, Randy, Nancy and Randy Jr moved to Yakima, Nancy’s hometown to help run the family business Clasen Fruit and Cold Storage. Randy’s mechanical skills were a great asset to the development of the business. He soon took on the responsibility of supervising and managing the maintenance of the entire plant. Randy and Nancy were dedicated to the business for 34 years until it sold in 2008.

May 9, 1973, Randy and Nancy were blessed with a baby girl, Karah Leigh Grimes. Randy had great pride and admiration with equal amounts of frustration in trying to raise the two high-spirited children. The adventures had just begun!

After Randy introduced motorcycles to his son, it soon turned into a weekly family event of motocross racing around the Northwest for 10 years. Jr’s passion for motocross kept “Big” Randy in the barn and shop working on and fixing just about everything.

Randy loved golfing, boating and fishing trips with friends and family. These trips often included good friends and brother-in-law Wayne Clasen. He also enjoyed many family Christmases at Nancy’s mother and step-father’s home in Calgary, Alberta. Helping “Grandpa” restore antique cars, snowmobiles and equipment was a favorite pastime. But no one loved family time at Priest Lake more than Randy. The annual trips were not optional, but expected and never disappointing. The trips to Priest Lake throughout the years hold countless memories and even more stories.

Randy’s love of the Lord was obvious in his life. He was quick to share the testimony of how God had transformed him and was sure to give Him the glory in all the blessings of his life.

Randy made friends everywhere he went. He loved music, playing guitar, singing, pool, cards, and entertained anyone who shared his interests. In the late 70s, Randy met his best friend Clint Friday and a lifetime of adventures ensued. This rare friendship was one few people experience and even fewer are as fortunate and blessed to have had for nearly 30 years. Along with their wives, Nancy and Cheri, they became lifelong companions and shared family vacations at Priest Lake, holidays, “minis,” fun and many crazy adventures.

Randy retired in 2005 but kept himself busy with farming, in the shop tinkering with projects, painting, always sure to get himself “greasy” and dirty! His life was filled with great love for his family, friends, faith, cars, fishing, music, guns, coins and stamps, good food, good stories and always a good laugh.

It would be impossible to recount the amount of people touched by Randy. He did the things he wanted to, spoke his mind and didn’t live with regrets. His big charismatic personality, infectious laugh, wild stories and passion for life will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

Randy is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lucille Grimes and his brother Robert (Linda) Grimes and best friend, Clint Friday.

Randy leaves behind his beloved and cherished wife Nancy of 54 years, his brother Richard (Joan) Grimes, son Randy (Jill) Grimes, daughter Karah (Shon) Brown, grandchildren, Dylan and Kyle Grimes, Mateus, Esabella, and Magnus Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any gifts be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

There will be a visitation Friday, March 2, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Keith and Keith. A Celebration of Randy’s life will be held at Wiley Union Church On Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.

We invite you to share a memory of Randy at www.keithandkeith.com