Eddie “Gritter” Grabeel passed away in Richland, Wash. on Dec. 27, 2017 at the age of 69.
He was born on Aug. 17, 1948 in Ava, Mo. to Scolan and Loeta Elliott Grabeel.
Eddie moved from Missouri to Pendleton in 1954. He moved to Hermiston in 1960 and graduated from Hermiston High School in the class of 1966. In 1968, he was drafted into the Army and served as an Army Ranger in the 75th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge in 1970 he returned to Hermiston, where he had resided since.
Eddie married Kathryn in 1972, and from this union daughters Karen, Kimberly and Karra were born. The couple later divorced.
Eddie worked in several careers, such as lineman for Union Pacific Railroad and construction worker for Local 121. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, making canes and knives and watching “Jeopardy”.
He is survived by his daughters, Karen (Gabriel) Owen of Lexington, Kimberly (Marco) Lopez of Hermiston and Karra (Earl) VanFossen of Hermiston; parents, Scolan and Beverly Grabeel of Hermiston; brothers, Charles Grabeel of Hermiston and Keith (Cindy) Grabeel of Wenatchee, Wash.; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Loeta.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2018 at the Burns Mortuary Chapel in Hermiston. Burial with military honors will follow in the Hermiston Cemetery. A celebration will follow at the Cozy Corner Tavern, 198 E. Main St., Hermiston.
The family suggests memorial donations in Eddie’s memory be made to the Hermiston VFW Post 4750. His family wishes to offer a special thank you to caregiver Glynis Newman.
To leave an online condolence for the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
