Grattan William Sexton

May 09, 1914 - December 11, 2008

Grattan William Sexton Obituary Passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2008. He was born May 9, 1914 to Nora Marie Kelley and Walter George Sexton. His parents were American born and moved to Saskatchewan, Canada to homestead. Gratt was born in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the sixth of nine children. The family moved to Spokane in 1926 when Gratt was in grade school. He attended Havermale Junior High School and graduated from North Central High School in 1935. He married Dorothy Louise Miller of Spokane, WA at St. Francis Church in Spokane, WA on September 16, 1935. Gratt worked as a machinist for Carter-Miller Mill Furnishing Company in Spokane. Gratt proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1938. He and Dorothy had their first and second children before the start of World War II. During World War II, Gratt served his country as a master machinist at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyards at Bremerton, WA. After World War II, the Sexton family returned to Spokane, where Gratt became co-owner and then owner of Carter-Miller Mill Furnishing Company until 1970. Gratt and Dorothy had three more children in Spokane. During the 1970's, Gratt was a property manager and realtor for Jim Black and James Bertis until his retirement in 1983. Gratt was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and was a charter member of Rotary International of Spokane. He was on the Board of Realtors and after retirement mentored businessmen through his involvement with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Dorothy and Gratt were active members of St. Paschal's Catholic Church in Spokane Valley, WA for over twenty-five years. They spoke with much enthusiasm and gratitude for their years spent traveling in their RV throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Gratt enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, barbequing, ham radio operation, physical conditioning, computer operation, reading adventure novels, and connecting with extended family. In their later years Gratt and Dorothy enjoyed the care and love given to them by their family at Colonial Court on Cataldo in the Spokane Valley. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Second Harvest at www.2-harvest.org. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Carole Marie and Gavin K. MacHutchin, Tacoma, WA, Dennis W. and Marilyn J. Sexton, Everett, WA, Greg L. and Marilyn S. Sexton, East Wenatchee, WA, Robert L. and Carol D. Sexton, Spokane, WA, Patricia L. Rice and Michael G. Hottott, Tacoma, WA; sixteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 1:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home.