In Memoriam: Grant Edmund McLaughlin (September 13, 1941 - April 16, 2025)

Grant Edmund McLaughlin, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the age of 83 years, 7 months and 2 days (a nod to Grant’s famous age spreadsheet.) If you had the pleasure of meeting Grant, he was fond of the conversation starter, “Did you know I am a triplet?” and he was!

On September 13th, 1941, Eva Engbrecht McLaughlin gave birth to three boys, triplets, in the small town of Beulah, North Dakota. Grant was the first followed by Gordon and Gerald. The triplets were kids #7,8, and 9 in the family of Eva and Hugh McLaughlin. Grant grew up in Spokane, Washington, frequently spending summers working on the farm of his sister Marlys and her husband in Odessa, WA. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a master’s degree in applied mathematics, and one of his first jobs was programming a computer at the Washington Trust Bank in Spokane, WA where he met his wife, Diantha (Ditty).

Grant loved his family…wife Ditty, sons Steve and Ryan, five grandchildren (Aidan, Alex, Nathan, Emma and Audrey), his 8 siblings, and his dog Willie. He loved their home of 47 years in Bellevue, grilling outside, making bread, spending time on the lake, and hosting parties with the neighbors. Grant also loved jokes and stories. He never claimed to have a strategy for life but followed the ebbs and flows. He qualified to be a code breaker for the US Army, but they needed cooks instead of code breakers! He was offered a job at Group Health in the accounting team and grew with the organization to become the CFO. He retired early and then served friends and former colleagues as a financial planner for over a decade. Grant and Ditty also followed many a winding route on road trips through the incredible western U.S between Seattle, Colorado, New Mexico and parts in between visiting family and friends.

In the months, weeks, and days before his passing, Grant was surrounded by his family and was grateful for his life. From a wry smile to a well-timed gesture, it was always clear that his sense of humor was alive and well! He is loved and will be missed.

Dignity memorial Obituary can be found here

A celebration in his honor will be planned for this summer