Lloyd Marion Grames' Obituary
Lloyd was born in Milford, Utah, to Marion Grames and Elna Christensen, but called Cedar City, Utah home, having moved there when his father sought work in the early years of the Depression. His father established a metal working shop, became chief of the volunteer fire department, and a member of the Cedar City town council. His mother, the daughter of Danish immigrants, planted and nourished the family's spiritual seeds along with her prolific vegetable garden and her two children, Lloyd and his sister, Floris. Lloyd was a tough and wiry star half-back on the high school football team in spite of his small frame. In those days, this was only a six-man squad in small town schools. He played the trumpet in the school band and was the student body president of Cedar City High School. He married his high school sweetheart, the pretty and vivacious Ja Lene Heywood. After attending two years at the College of Southern Utah'known then as the Branch Agricultural College (or BAC)'Lloyd graduated with honors from Utah State University in Logan, receiving his degree in civil engineering. Lloyd returned to Cedar City as the City Engineer where he surveyed, designed and supervised the construction of key public works projects before accepting a job in Salt Lake City with the Board of Fire Underwriters, traveling throughout the state evaluating fire safety in Utah towns. He was recruited by the EIMCO Corporation in Salt Lake City and transferred to San Mateo, California, in 1971 where he and Ja Lene spent the next 38 years. Lloyd designed and sold equipment which was used in processes such as water purification and energy production, creating innovative technologies'now called 'green' technology–for industries including the Idaho potato processors who, as a result of Lloyd's work, were able to return clean water to Idaho's Snake River. Lloyd's company later became the Baker-Hughes company and sent him to Japan to manage a joint venture with the Sumitomo group. Accompanied by Ja Lene and daughter Rochelle, they joined their son, Conan, and his family in Tokyo. They became the only father-son expatriate team in the large American community in Japan, a country which came to have a significant place in the hearts and lives of the entire Grames family, an influence which could be seen even with a glance at the décor of Lloyd and Ja Lene's home. During this stay in Japan, Rochelle met her husband, Mark, who speaks fluent Japanese and later managed the US subsidiary of a Japanese company, making countless trips to Japan. Conan, who served two missions for the Mormon Church in Japan, became an international lawyer and lived in Japan for 15 years, raising six children there with his wife Cindy. Lloyd retired in 1999. He and Ja Lene were inseparable, creating award-winning landscaping featured in Sunset magazine, shaping countless bonsai plants, and building many memories as they traveled often, usually to visit their children. In addition to their many years in Japan, Conan and Cindy lived in Boston, New York, Princeton, Washington, DC, and Utah. Daughter Rochelle, Mark, and their three boys lived in both California and Georgia. Lloyd and Ja Lene were the most attentive grandparents to their nine grandchildren and seven'soon to be nine'great grandchildren, constantly sending packages–usually treats from the Japanese dollar store'to the kids.Lloyd, always persistent, surviving a number of heart failures and surgeries, eventually gave in to his long-time challenge. He was loved by everyone who knew him as a kind, considerate, congenial, and gentle man who never had a critical or angry word for anyone or any situation. His grandchildren, including the great grandchildren, loved to sit on his lap in church to be entertained while Grandpa drew marvelous pictures of whatever their minds could imagine. He spent countless hours with his children–teaching, reading, answering questions, throwing baseballs–and always placing them ahead of any business or other commitments. To wife Ja Lene, not only was he the love of her heart, but also became her hands and feet as arthritis made it increasingly difficult for her to climb stairs, open bottles and put on socks. His children could never recall their father sitting down or reading the paper when there was food to be cooked, dishes to be done or someone to be helped. There are no buildings or monuments named after Lloyd Grames, but those who knew him best have'and will'name their children after this great man who, although physically small, stood as a giant in their eyes. What greater honor could be paid to a truly great man?
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