Graydon David Pope
August 1st, 1965 - May 17th, 2025
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Graydon's Obituary
Graydon David Pope, 59, of Marshall, passed away, Saturday, May 17, 2025, with his loving wife by his side. He was the oldest survivor of Tetrology of Fallot, a combination of four congenital heart defects that affect infants.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 13, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 5 P.M.. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Graydon’s name to NF Michigan or Sodus Township George Pope Memorial Park. Those wishing to sign Graydon’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Graydon was born August 1, 1965, in Benton Harbor, to Gary and Merikay (Stowers) Pope. After graduating from Eau Claire High School he went on to have a well rounded, eclectic work life including, sales for the family farm equipment business. Graydon loved music such as the bands Journey, Foreigner, The Little River Band, Tesla, Styx, Boston, Lynard Skinner, and artists Phil Collins and Pat Benatar, just to name a few. Graydon enjoyed many volunteer hours at the Venetian Summer Music Festival in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he was privileged to meet some of his favorite artists. He was also very proud of his President George Bush, “Thousand Points of Light” award, won as a Reserve Officer for Baroda Lake Township Police Department.
He was adored by many and known by his family to “overshare” with people he just met, even if they were just standing in the grocery line. In his eyes, there was no such thing as a stranger. He was a man of faith, and although a certain church made him feel quite unwelcome, and despite never finding another faith family, he would often ask people to pray with him or, to offered prayer to others. While he would sometimes ask if Dorothy, believed Heaven was real, he never questioned that Jesus was there for him. He was very forgiving – even if, not very patient.
In 2005, he married the love of his life Dorothy Boyden in Sodus. They spent their marriage growing in love and faith. Graydon battled many illnesses the last few years of his life. He survived a second open heart surgery, double pneumonia (which, his family was told he would not survive and miraculously overnight, he was cured) and, valve replacement surgery. Graydon was living with chronic respiratory failure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, and brain damage. Despite the chronic and tremendous pain, he kept smiling. Graydon even tried attending events like the Neurofibromatosis picnics (NF Michigan) because he knew they were important to his wife. He was an amazing spirit!
Graydon is survived by his wife, Dorothy Pope and their fur babies; his mom– Merikay Pope of South Haven, cousins and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his father – Gary Pope.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 13, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 5 P.M.. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Graydon’s name to NF Michigan or Sodus Township George Pope Memorial Park. Those wishing to sign Graydon’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Graydon was born August 1, 1965, in Benton Harbor, to Gary and Merikay (Stowers) Pope. After graduating from Eau Claire High School he went on to have a well rounded, eclectic work life including, sales for the family farm equipment business. Graydon loved music such as the bands Journey, Foreigner, The Little River Band, Tesla, Styx, Boston, Lynard Skinner, and artists Phil Collins and Pat Benatar, just to name a few. Graydon enjoyed many volunteer hours at the Venetian Summer Music Festival in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he was privileged to meet some of his favorite artists. He was also very proud of his President George Bush, “Thousand Points of Light” award, won as a Reserve Officer for Baroda Lake Township Police Department.
He was adored by many and known by his family to “overshare” with people he just met, even if they were just standing in the grocery line. In his eyes, there was no such thing as a stranger. He was a man of faith, and although a certain church made him feel quite unwelcome, and despite never finding another faith family, he would often ask people to pray with him or, to offered prayer to others. While he would sometimes ask if Dorothy, believed Heaven was real, he never questioned that Jesus was there for him. He was very forgiving – even if, not very patient.
In 2005, he married the love of his life Dorothy Boyden in Sodus. They spent their marriage growing in love and faith. Graydon battled many illnesses the last few years of his life. He survived a second open heart surgery, double pneumonia (which, his family was told he would not survive and miraculously overnight, he was cured) and, valve replacement surgery. Graydon was living with chronic respiratory failure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, and brain damage. Despite the chronic and tremendous pain, he kept smiling. Graydon even tried attending events like the Neurofibromatosis picnics (NF Michigan) because he knew they were important to his wife. He was an amazing spirit!
Graydon is survived by his wife, Dorothy Pope and their fur babies; his mom– Merikay Pope of South Haven, cousins and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his father – Gary Pope.
Memorial Contributions
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