Gerry Leigh Grimes

GERRY LEIGH GRIMES, 81, died Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Norcross, GA. He was born
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, son of Gerald Leigh and Rose Burris Grimes. He is survived
by his wife of almost 60 years, Daneille Griffin Grimes; his children, Sylvie Elise Lansdowne,
and Sarah Kathleen Wiggins (Todd); grandchildren, Harrison, Griffin, Preston, Logan Elyse;
his sister, Jane Ellen Grimes Roop (Jim) and his brother, Richard Alan Grimes (Janet); and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Grimes grew up in Oklahoma City, graduating from U.S. Grant Highschool in 1961. He
graduated with a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1966. At
O.S.U. he was president of his Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
He worked for the CECO Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, for 25 years in Chicago,
Atlanta and Oklahoma City. He started the concrete construction company, Etowah
Industries, Inc., building parking decks throughout the Atlanta area before retiring from
construction in 2009. In 2010 he rekindled his interest in watercolor arts and began
creating art and selling it at arts festivals across the state of Georgia. This love of watercolor
led him to teach numerous workshops and classes, bringing this love of art and creativity to
hundreds of people.
Gerry was a renaissance man. His hobbies were endless, including wood working,
photography, blue grass music, cooking, fishing, golf, travel and reading. He had a love of
sports of all types, but coaching and watching his kids and grandkids play sports was his
real passion. He never missed a game.
Gerry’s Christianity was his purpose in life and influenced everything he did. As an example
of Christian discipleship, he was a deacon, elder, teacher, and even leader of a traveling
youth choir. His Christian service and witness went above and beyond church
membership, touching countless lives.
He was a true force, and if you thought this was long…you should have heard one of his
stories.