HOLDEN, Mo. -- The Rev. Dr. Grant Franklin Claude Gillard, 62, of Holden passed away unexpectedly Thursday, March 18, 2021, at his home.

Grant was born Nov. 17, 1958, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Jack F.C. and Barbara Anderson Gillard.

He graduated from Albert Lea High School. Next, he earned a Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University in Ames. Following Iowa State, he attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where he met his wife, Nancy. He was united in marriage to Nancy Dee Farris on Sept. 6, 1986, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The couple lived in Newark, Delaware, for several years, where Grant served as associate pastor at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church for six years. Next, the couple resided in Jackson, where he was the minister at First Presbyterian Church for 25 years. They had been rural Holden residents since 2018. Grant was pastor at New Horizon Presbyterian Church in Odessa, Missouri, at the time of his untimely passing.

He was a beekeeper. He served as past state president of Missouri State Beekeeper Association. He was also an avid gun club member in both the Glenville (Minnesota) Gun Club and Cape Girardeau County Gun Club. He was very active in church groups, including bible study and youth groups just to name a few.

Survivors include his loving wife of nearly 35 years, Nancy Gillard; two daughters, Barbara Gillard of Kansas City, Missouri, and Claire Gillard of Corvallis, Oregon; son, Austin Gillard of Kansas City; sister, Anne Timmer (Tim) of Wayne, Michigan; brother, Jason Gillard (Cheri) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; stepmother,: Marina Gillard of Glenville; father-in-law, Fred D. Farris of Leawood, Kansas; two brothers-in-law, Jim Farris (Deanna) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Alan Farris of Overland Park, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 12501 137th St., in Overland Park.

A celebration of life service will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are appreciated to New Hope Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are entrusted to Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden.

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.