Eulala Grant (Bolivar)'s Obituary
On January 10, 2015 God welcomed with open arms our precious mother Eulala Grant, 81 into heaven. She was born December 6, 1933 in Vernon County Missouri and raised in Nevada, the only daughter of Ernest and Georgia Bray. Eulala started school in rural Vernon County, graduating from Nevada High School in 1951. She attended Southwest Missouri State where she met Bill Grant and was married on November 13, 1954.
Together with Bill they worked side-by side to start the family dairy farm. She also worked for Shelton Brothers Ford and Bodine Ford in Bolivar until their son Kelly was born in 1958. In 1959 they were also blessed with the arrival of their daughter Kim.
Eulala completed her education degree in 1967 at Southwest Missouri State. She taught at Buffalo and Pleasant Hope Schools before returning to the Ford business known then as Lionel Lear Ford until 1970.
In the early 70's Eulala received her Real Estate Sales License and later earned her Broker License. She enjoyed a brief real estate sales career.
In early 1976, Eulala and Bill founded Bill Grant Ford-Mercury in Bolivar. Her daily presence was the cornerstone of the business. Customers and employees embraced her vivacious personality. Due to health issues she relinquished her full-time corner desk in 2007. Eulala continued to assist part-time at the dealership to allow her more time with her grandsons for a number of years.
Eulala was a member of Bolivar's "20-Club", a Federated Women's philanthropic organization, the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, and First Baptist Church. Numerous other organizations were influenced by her talents and personality, including her high school group known as "the girls" which met every 5 years.
She enthusiastically traveled with Bill on many Heart of the Ozarks Model T Club tours in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, & Colorado in the 90's. Together, they hosted the national tour of 200 Model T's visiting Bolivar in 1994.
She lived life to its fullest in everything she was involved in, touching many lives along the way. Her smile was contagious and her hospitality never stopped.
Daughter Kim married Greg Horton from Fair Play in December 1982. Grandsons Bryan Alan Horton, born in 1990 and David Grant Horton, born in 1994 were the light of her life. She spent many hours attending their school events, entertaining them at the farm, and traveling on their vacations. She was so proud to attend both of their graduations and share in their lives.
Son Kelly married Anne Abney from Springfield in August, 1988. Dear to Eulala's heart is the fact that Kelly chose to join the family business and reside with Anne on the farm.
Survivors not only include her husband, children, and grandsons, but numerous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews. Eulala's extended family was always loved and welcomed at her kitchen table. Memories from the farm will be treasured by all her survivors.
When her first heart attack occurred in 1998, her recovery and rehab were an encouragement to many. Later recoveries from strokes as well as a serious fall didn't dampen her resolve. Loving caregivers marveled at her spirit & determination to overcome physical limitations. She choose to remain in her home, a place she loved, surrounded by friends and family. With the assistance from Integrity Home Care and Hospice, she was able to spend her last 6 years at home. We express our sincere thanks to the special caregivers who kept her comfortable through the end of her journey.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
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