Our beloved son and brother, Preston Creer Grant, 57, passed away at his home in San Francisco, CA, on Thursday, May 25, 2017. He died peacefully but of his own choosing. Preston lived a full life, and he did so the only way he knew how ‚ BIG. All who had the good fortune to know him will never forget that big, booming laughter of his that would fill any room. He lived with a big personality, big adventure, big creativity, and with a big and enormously sensitive heart. Regrettably, he also lived with a big sadness and pain that try as he might he just couldn't shake. Gratefully, Preston is free of that pain now, but he leaves a big hole in all of our hearts.
Preston was born on March 5, 1960 in Palo Alto, CA to Brooke and Sally Grant. The oldest of five children, he was raised in the Bay Area and in Salt Lake City. He graduated from East High School, the University of Utah (where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity), and business school at George Washington University. Preston served a mission for the LDS Church in Tokyo, Japan.
Preston loved the outdoors, be it the mountains or the beach. He skied, hiked, camped, and loved the serenity of a remote wilderness hot spring where he could sit and watch as the stars filled the night sky. He had a true wanderlust and traveled often. He loved nothing more than to disappear for weeks to some far-off land where he would take beautiful photographs of people and places.
Preston loved life and people from all walks, and he gave richly to both. As a proud gay man, he was a passionate defender of lesbian, gay, and transgender people, and any who felt different or who struggled to find their place in the world. He was an artist and a talented writer and recently published a book titled Gay, Explained.
Preston was deeply spiritual and he filled the lives of those around him with understanding and wisdom and with his remarkable talents and gifts. He touched so many people throughout his life with his intellect, his humor, his caring, his understanding, and above all, with his love. And to so many he gave that most precious gift ‚ he gave his time. He was willing to listen to anybody who needed to unburden themselves of life's many challenges.
Preston will be dearly missed by both friends and family. He is survived by his mother and father, Sally and Brooke Grant of Salt Lake City, his brother Greg Grant of Washington DC, and his sisters, Elizabeth Grant of Washington DC, Allison (Kenn) Dayton of Salt Lake City, and Pamela (Stephen) Caine of Naperville, Illinois. He will be remembered by eight loving nieces and nephews, Devin, Jacob, and Luke Dayton, Zackery Lewis, Benjamin, Emily, Elizabeth, and Caroline Caine. And by his dear lifelong friend Silvio Romero da Penha, who currently resides in Brazil.
Preston will be remembered by his parents for the love he showed them, and how he patiently cared for them as they aged; he will be remembered by his little brother and his little sisters for having taught us so much, from waterskiing when we were little kids to an appreciation for the most exotic Asian cuisine; and he will be remembered by his nieces and nephews as that outrageous uncle who showed them how to celebrate life and be true to your own spirit. It is our hope and wish that Preston feels the love we have for him. It is so strong dear Preston, and it always will be.
We invite California friends and family to a celebration in his honor at his home in San Francisco, 5-7pm, Friday, June 9. A gathering will also be held in Salt Lake City for friends and family on Sunday, June 11, from 4-7pm at the home of Kenn and Allison Dayton (1576 Yale Avenue).
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made for a garden in his name at Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Center (https://encircletogether.org).
