To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 3/10/23 • Approved: 3/11/23 • Last Updated: 3/14/23 • R1475294-G1475294-S3
Willie
February 27, 1922 - April 21, 2011
Donna
October 8, 1925 - April 7, 2016
Married: December 20, 1944
Our Daughters: Carol - Francis
Willie (Bill) Lee Grantom, 89, El Dorado, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the John R. Williamson Hospice after a brief illness. He was born in Doland, TX on February 27, 1922 to Willie Lee and Zodia Pearl Maxie Grantom.
Mr. Grantom was preceded in death by his father and mother; grandfather, William Maxie; grandmother, Francis Ella (Mammie) Nutt Maxie of El Dorado and a younger brother, Roy Luther Grantom, Springfield, MO.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Ady Grantom; two daughters Carol Humphries Smith and her husband, Basil, Tull, AR and Francis Kuykendall and her husband Darrell, El Dorado; four grandchildren, Marcus Lee Humphries, Cedarville, AR; Paul Ryan Kuykendall and his wife, Martha, Plano, TX; Keri Smith Jones and her husband, Doug, Maumelle, AR; and Julia Smith Schaap and her husband, Daniel, Springdale, AR; and seven great-grandchildren, Haven Ashley Humphries, Cedarville, AR, Andrew, Rachel and their soon to arrive baby brother Kuykendall, Plano, TX, Hallie and Sophie Jones, Maumelle, AR; and Nila Schaap, Springdale, AR. He leaves a number of nieces and nephews including Linda Grantom and her husband, Daniel McKinney, Branson, MO, Pamela and her husband, Ron Hix, Minnetonka, MN, Roger Brokke, York, PA, and Kristine and her husband, Barry Bahl, Sartell, MN and a cousin Frances Joy Maxie Walters, Rayville, LA.
As a young man, he lived in Norphlet, AR, Wink, TX and Horatio, AR and graduated from Horatio High School in 1941. After graduation, he attended the University of Arkansas. In September 1942, he joined the Navy in Little Rock and went through Naval Boot Camp in San Diego, CA. He attended Electricians School at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. There he met the love of his life, Donna Ady Grantom. They were married on December 20, 1944 in Minneapolis. They were married 66 years.
He served on the USS Mine Sweeper YMS 115 and later on the USS Hailey DD556 from November 1943 to December 1944 as Electrician Mate Second Class. His ship, the USS Hailey, was assigned to the Task Force 38, Taffy 2 Group in the South Pacific and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 and the Mariana Turkey Shoot. He also served in naval campaigns in the Marshall Islands, Guam and Saipan. In June 1945, he was assigned to the USS Gyatt DD712. He was discharged in October, 1945 as an Electrician Mate Second Class.
In 1951, he and his family moved from Fayetteville, AR to El Dorado where he worked in the chemical and oil plant industry as an industrial mechanic. He retired from Monsanto in El Dorado in 1969 and moved to the Texas coast where he worked for Union Carbide and GAF and retired in 1982. After retirement, he and Donna moved to Litchfield, MN and then to Russellville, AR in 1994. In 2007 they moved back to El Dorado.
He was a Southern Baptist and served as a deacon at Marrable Hill Baptist Church. He believed that the Bible should be studied and not just be read.
Bill was a true patriot and had a strong love and appreciation for the United States Constitution. He was a member of the Washington Lodge #1 F.& A. M. in Fayetteville, AR since 1948. He was recognized as a 50-year and lifetime Member in 1998. He was a licensed private pilot, an accomplished artist and an avid reader. He and Donna enjoyed western vacations and camping with his girls. He also enjoyed touring the United States on his Gold Wing motorcycle with Donna in the sidecar.
When his daughters were in the El Dorado Bands, people would see Bill working the concession stand at every football game at Memorial Stadium. He supported the band program by being a chaperon on out-of-town trips and the boys in his group knew and appreciated “Mr. Bill’s” rules. His groups were always full.
He was a political conservative, a Tea Party supporter and a devoted 21-year Rush Limbaugh listener.
His Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, April 25th at 11:00 a.m. at Young’s Chapel in El Dorado with Bro. Jack Webb and Mrs. Carol Humphries Smith officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens with Military Honors under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202 or to John R. Williamson Hospice House, 2301 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado, AR 71731-4816.
The family wishes to express its appreciation to those with Life Touch Hospice who were such a blessing to Bill and to the entire family. Your care, compassion and professionalism were most appreciated
Contributed on 3/10/23 by debbraszymanski
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1475294