Longtime Homer resident, Mr. Grant “Bill” Stafford Jr. died Jan. 13, 2007, at South Peninsula Hospital from complications with cancer. He was 72.

A funeral service was held Jan. 16, 2007, at Christian Community Church. A viewing was held prior to the service.  Pastor Floyd Seekins officiated. The Homer Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10221 performed military honors. Pallbearers included Brandon Sandstrom, Dave Sandstrom, Kirk Sandstrom, Josh Merkes, Daniel Stafford and Matt Streiff.  

Grant was born Dec. 21, 1934, to Grant Sr. and Marion Stafford in Newark, Ohio. He entered into the U.S. Army in 1952, and served until he was honorably discharged in 1955. Grant moved to Alaska in 1971, where he lived in Homer until moving to Sitkalidak Island where he resided from June 1977 to  March 1984, until moving back to Homer. He was self-employed, owning a plumbing and heating business. He loved fishing, boating in Prince William Sound and was an avid outdoorsman.

The family wrote, “He will be remembered for his love and concern for others. Wherever there was a need, he was ready and willing to help. He loved his family. He was a man full of faith and had a love for the Lord Jesus. He loved to pray blessings over his wife, children and grandchildren. There was a time he took his wife and family and lived a ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ lifestyle on an island off of Kodiak. He was a man who put God first and cared for others.”

Grant was preceded in death by his stepbrother, Richard Holcomb, and granddaughter, Sarah Merkes. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Stafford of 48 years of Homer; daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Dennis Merkes, and their children, Nichole, Tammi, Jeni, Josh, and Briana of Sterling; daughter and son-in-law, Timi and Mike Sandstrom and their children Brandon, David and Kirk of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Robert Johnson and their children Matthew and Krystal of Oregon; son and daughter-in-law Tom and Lisa Stafford and their children Daniel, Brittani, Alecia, and Kayla of Homer; son, Bob Stafford and his children, Elijah and Austin; brother, Ronald Stafford of Homer; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Carol Stafford of Georgia; brother and sister in-law, John and Martha Stafford of Ohio; great-grandchildren, Corbin, Caleb, Jaiden, Jenna, Sarah, Nathan, Gage, Ella, Ezekiel, Elissa, Ian, Lanaya, and Zebadiah; sister, Twila Boykin of Texas and many other brothers and sister-in-laws in Ohio.

Arrangements were made by Homer Funeral Home.