Daryle Grayson

Daryle Grayson passed away in Phoenix on November 8, 2024, at the age of 79. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake with a Visitation starting at 1PM.

Daryle Lloyd Grayson was born to Robert Dale and Engeline Ida (Wiebel) Grayson of Erdahl Township on December 30, 1944, the second of three children. He never married or had children. He was living in north central Phoenix when his appetite and health declined. He entered South Mountain Assisted Living and then moved to Bella’s Care Home where he passed away. He was cremated and will rest at Union Cemetery in Elbow Lake.

Daryle graduated from Barrett High School as valedictorian in 1963, during the Vietnam War. He attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for five years. He then trained for the Peace Corps on the Big Island of Hawaii to teach mathematics to children in Malaysia.

Returning to Grant County, he lived on the home farm that summer before entering military service. Daryle chose three years instead of the usual two years. The army stationed Daryle in Germany where he worked on computer systems for the Hawk surface-to-air missile program.

After his military service, Daryle returned to the home farm. Later that year he drove his car to visit an army friend in Pennsylvania, then drove to see other army friends at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. From there he stayed with his Aunt Minnie and Uncle Marvin Edwards in Mesa, Arizona for a while and ended up settling in Phoenix in the early 1970’s.

Daryle fell in love with Phoenix and never left. He worked two office jobs: Napa Auto Parts and then Home Depot before retiring. He was an avid user of public transportation. He was kind, gentle, honest, respectful; and he had a sharp mind, finishing the hardest crossword puzzles, loved trivia, and could question every answer on Jeopardy! Daryle studied the complete list of US Presidents and Vice Presidents, their political parties and their years in office. He also studied D1A and D1AA college football teams, conferences, and standings weekly.

Daryle is survived by his brother, Allen of Barrett; 8 nieces and nephews: Sara (Grayson) Borchardt (Mike) of South Dakota, Rachel Grayson, John Grayson (Rachel), Elizabeth “Libby” Grayson, Deborah (Grayson) Johnson (Marvin), Mary (Grayson) Kangas, Angie Olson, and Shawn Olson, all of Minnesota; cousins Kathy (Edwards) Iverson of Iowa, and Bruce Edwards, and Beverly (Grayson) Thompson of Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Kay Darlene (Grayson) Olson, and many cousins.

Assisting the family is Erickson-Smith Funeral Home.