Jack Patrick Gridley

Jack Patrick Gridley of Fountain Hills passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. In mid-July of this year, Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Fay. Jack is survived by their three children, Mark Gridley of Fountain Hills (Stacy), Gail Oliphant of Fountain Hills, and Kimlynn Marsden of Chicago (James), along with seven grandchildren, Joshua and Dustin Gridley, David, Valerie, and Andrew Oliphant, and Granger and Grant Marsden.

Jack was born in Benton Harbor, Mich. on March 28, 1930 where he grew up on the family farm and was involved in the Future Farmers of America. He also earned the high achievement of Eagle Scout. Jack graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He met Fay and they were married in 1951. Since Jack graduated with distinction in the top two percent of ROTC, he received a direct admission to the Army Officers Training and Infantry school in Georgia.

As a 1st Lieutenant Platoon Leader in Korea, Jack was a highly decorated war hero. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, The Korean Service Medal, the Bronze Star Service Medal, and the Purple Heart.

Although Jack had planned to make the Army his life’s career, the severe and permanent physical disabilities suffered during enemy combat required him to fully retire from the military in 1954.

He and Fay and infant son Mark moved to Kalamazoo, Mich. where Jack took a teaching position in an eight-room school as a kindergarten teacher.

Their family grew with the addition of their two daughters, Gail and Kimlynn. Jack went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Education and moved up into education administration. He served as vice principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of the Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate School District. During his administrative career he was most instrumental in bringing IBM computer technology to the educational arena.

In 1973, Jack retired from his career in education, and moved his family to Fountain Hills. He and Fay started a family-run business that started out on Saguaro Blvd. as McDowell Mountain Stationary, an office supply and offset printing and blueprint business. He was involved in several efforts to help the young community of Fountain Hills blossom. Most notably, he produced the very first phone book for Fountain Hills, “The Fountain Connection,” and was involved in the administration of the Fire District and Sanitation District.

In 1977 the store was moved to the Avenue of the Fountains and the name was changed to Gridleys of Fountain Hills. With the move and name change, the business was expanded to include many new types of Southwest items including Jack’s favorite hobby of rocks and lapidary. He enjoyed attending the annual International Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson every year.

Other things that Jack personally enjoyed in his life prior to the Korean War were camping and hunting, gymnastics, running and dancing. After the Korean War, Jack enjoyed his pets, vegetable gardening, rock hunting, the occasional golf outing and casino video poker, and he traveled to Scandinavia, Russia, Hungary, and many special places in the United States.

He loved Fountain Hills and never missed an opportunity to sit outside on the patio to watch the wildlife and enjoy the vista views. Gridleys of Fountain Hills operated for 44 years and Jack, in his trademark cowboy hat, western shirt, bolo tie and broad smile, was a familiar fixture in and around Fountain Hills.

He will be missed. There will be no services.