William Grady Harper, age 83, passed away, July 26, 2022. William was born on January 15, 1939 in Willacoochee, GA to the parents of Robert and Lucy Harper. William’s father passed away when he was nine years old and his mother took her family to live with her parents. His family then moved to Jacksonville, FL and he went to Andrew Jackson High School and worked for the Parks Department after school. After graduating he went to work full time for the recreation department.
He married his wife Barbara Simpson on November 19, 1950 in Jacksonville, FL, and moved to Georgia when his wife transferred to Clarksville, GA for her job with the Forest Service. He started a painting business in Clarksville, GA and enjoyed the mountains for twelve years. He also painted with Ronnie Brannon Construction for several years.
William was a Fireman/Paramedic for the city of Jacksonville for 24 years. He was among the first firefighters to participate in the newly organized paramedic and rescue program. He retired in 1980 and moved to Idaho where he built a log home and went to work with the USDA Forest Service marking timber and fighting forest fires.
In 2004 he moved back to Jacksonville, FL when his Barbara retired to be close to family, and found a church home at Old Plank Road Baptist Church and volunteered for many functions, including Tribulation House, Sports Fest and Cooking.
He loved hunting, fishing, traveling with family and cooking at the church.
He is survived by his wife Barbara Harper, his daughters; Kathy Alkire, Debbie Griffin and a sister, Barbara Harper; a nephew, Mark Evans and his wife, Michelle and their daughter, Haley Croft. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Johnathan Alkire, Zackery Alkire, Joshua Griffin and Daniel Griffin; his great grandchildren, Jackson Griffin, Harper Griffin, Reed Alkire, Ryker Griffin and Hazen Griffin.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 1, 2022 at 4:00pm in Old Plank Road Baptist Church, 8964 Old Plank Road, Jacksonville, FL 32220 with Rev. Larry McGinley officiating followed by interment in Gethsemane Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Fraser Funeral Home, 8168 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221 on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
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