John Grady Floyd

John Grady Floyd "entered the Kingdom of Heaven" on Aug. 11, 2005, after a prolonged battle with cancer.

John was born Dec. 4, 1955, in Yakima, Wash., to Junior Floyd (who has preceded John in death) and Mozell (Montgomery) Floyd, currently residing in East Wenatchee, Wash.

He is survived by three sisters; Daria Johnson in Lyle, Wash., Elizabeth Johnson and Martha Floyd, both of East Wenatchee; and a brother, Richard Floyd of Colorado Springs, Colo. He is also survived by his wife, Darla, and three children; Jana Mae, Angela and Grady, all of Whitefish.

John grew up in Rock Island, Wash., and, upon graduating from Eastmont High School in East Wenatchee, he worked 28 years with the railroad. He was with Burlington Northern Railroad's Bridge & Building Department out of Wenatchee until moving to Whitefish, where he became the water service department foreman.

John was very active within his church, the Whitefish Assembly of God, and held the position of Senior Commander for the Royal Rangers Outpost #71 for several years. He was a volunteer for Cross Currents as a crossing guard; a handy man for all kinds of repairs, shoveling snow and mowing the yard. John was an avid fisherman, loved to hunt, loved to travel and loved boating. You may have even seen him on the softball field. He was very devoted to his children.

This delightful, soft-spoken man blessed so many in his lifetime. Always cheerful, smiling and never complained. John was a living example of the fruit of the "Spirit" - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Visitation will be 12-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the First Baptist Church in Whitefish under the direction of the Austin Funeral Home.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Whitefish Assembly of God or to the Flathead Hospice Program.