Nesbit “Grady” Ford, or the “Lead Dog” to his Harley riding friends, passed away May 14, 2015 in Eureka.

Grady was born in Atlanta, Ga., to Ada Walker Speer and Grady Nesbit Ford. Grady had four siblings; Louise, Donald, Kathleen and Denise. He enlisted in the army right after school in 1948 and was stationed with the 11th Infantry Training Regiment, a unit of the 5th Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training. Grady was stationed with the US Army Caribbean at the Panama Canal and used to love to tell us stories of driving the troops and contractors around base. He loved getting to meet all the different people and having conversations with people from all walks of life.

Grady left the military in 1952 from Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, Calif., where he then moved to Antioch and went to work for PG&E as a gas line inspector and troubleshooter. Grady had a long, successful career with PG&E working and living in various parts of California, the state he left Atlanta for and loved so much.

After retiring from PG&E you could find Grady tending bar at his pub, Jan’s Pub, spending time with his granddaughter, Kayla, or riding his beloved Harley through the redwoods or down the winding beauty of Hwy 299. Twenty years ago he met Cindee, finding love and a new riding partner for the remainder of his life. Together with amazing groups of friends, they had many Harley adventures across the most beautiful parts of America. One of their favorite rides is featured in National Geographic’s book, Journey Across America, including a picture of them in front of the bike with the Redwoods behind them. They both used to say those years and rides were the best time of their lives. They also loved visiting Cindee’s two daughters in Sacramento and Phoenix, just enjoying the ride and life.

Grady was a long time resident of Eureka, with a routine many are familiar with: His morning Jitter Bean or Starbucks, his daily gym workout, and his walk around the water depot with the vicious little chihuahua, Kirby, who loved Grady to the moon and back.

Grady is joining his partner, Cindee Rosenberg, to watch over us from heaven, and leaves behind his step-daughters Mollie Teames and Anna Hartman, and his granddaughters, Sophie Teames and Kayla Brown. Grady is survived by his sisters, Kathleen McDevitt and Diane Franklin, as well as many nieces and nephews in Georgia.  

We invite you to participate in a Memorial Motorcycle Ride for Grady, Wednesday, May 20th at 10:00 A.M. We will meet at Redwood Harley Davidson in Eureka, CA. The ride will end at the Eureka Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 1018 H Street, at 11:30 A.M. where we will hold a memorial service for Grady to share your stories and memories of the Lead Dog over coffee and cookies.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following charities:

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The above obituary was submitted by Grady Ford’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.