James Patrick Grasso, age 54, passed away peacefully in our home in Spring Glen, November 7, 2024.
He was born on August 5, 1970, to Patsy Grasso and Betty Burkett in Long Branch, New Jersey. He grew up in Ogden, Utah and came to Grants Pass, Oregon after a brief stay in New Jersey with his grandma Burkett. He moved to Oregon, to be with his mom. And THAT is where we met. The two of us lived in Oregon and a short but very necessary period in Nevada before settling down in Utah.
Jim was a “jack of all trades”. He could fix anything! He was never afraid to tear something apart whether it was broken or not. He loved to see how things worked internally. His jobs ranged from working in landscaping, lumber mills, and roofing in Oregon. Furniture delivery, telephone company, coal mining, driving truck here in Utah, which he enjoyed the most. He ended his career as a homeschooling Dad. He homeschooled our late life SURPRISE, Janessa, she was the last softener of his heart. I would always tell him if we did an x-ray, his heart would be gone because she stole it. I’m sure when they did his autopsy they didn’t even find his heart.
Jim enjoyed his family most of all! He also enjoyed spending time playing in the beautiful backyard he took such great care of. He always enjoyed a dip in his pool with our Janessa and grandkids. The kids loved him lifting and throwing them up in the air while in the pool. He was a GREAT cabana boy; on a hot summer day, with the BBQ going for a BIG burger! Jim was an amazing cook and he loved to feed people. Always asking you to scale it 1-10, if you responded “borderline 11”, meant it was DELICIOUS! He was always trying to make you something special that you loved! He loved fishing, camping, boating, hiking, arrowhead hunting, throwing horseshoes, corn hole, and his latest pleasure, archery, going over to Mike’s with the boys and friends shooting balloons and playing tic tac toe.
Survived by me Diann Grasso, he was my boyfriend for 35 years and married 33 years!! Anyone that knows us knows that’s a big deal. Our sons, James (JD) Grasso (Teaira) of Wellington; Johnathan Grasso (Shaley) of Wellington; daughter, Janessa Grasso, of Spring Glen; Our five beautiful grandchildren, Rio, James Dennis, Dezie, Maylila, and Aurelio; mother, Betty Jane Burkett, of Wellington, and brother, John (Teresa) Grasso, of Price.
Vigil Service, Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 7:00 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. prior to the service.
Funeral Mass, Thursday, November 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m., St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (5 South Main Street) in Helper. The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. prior to the mass. Committal Service, Mt. View Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are welcome daily and may share memories of James online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.