Obituary of Kenneth "Skip" Grimshaw

BOYD POND – Kenneth "Skip" F. Grimshaw, Jr, age 56, of Boyd Pond, Russell, passed away at home on October 13, 2019. There will be a memorial service held at the Russell Methodist Church on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Lay Pastor John Frary. There are no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are with French Funeral Home in Edwards. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Donations in his memory may be made to the Potsdam Humane Society, 17 Madrid Ave, Potsdam NY 13678. Skip was born on February 25, 1963 in Canton to the late Kenneth Grimshaw, Sr. and Sadie Mae (Basford) Grimshaw. He attended Knox Memorial High School and married Michelle "Shelly" Beachard on May 27, 1989 at the Russell Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Carl Hutton. Skip loved to work in the dirt, building big projects and doing excavating work. He had worked various jobs before working for the Town of Russell where he served as Highway Superintendent. He was a heavy equipment operator for St. Lawrence County Highway Department for many years and after his retirement he operated Boyd Pond Land Development. He had also been the caretaker of the Hollywood Club in Colton. Skip and Shelly loved going to concerts together and driving through the mountains during autumn. He loved animals and also enjoyed hunting. Skip was a member and former Trustee of the Russell Methodist Church and a member and former chief of the Russell Fire Department. His survivors include his wife, Shelly; two children, Zach Grimshaw and Sammie and Steven Willard; five grandchildren, Emily, Mason, Gunner, James and Thomas; brother, Kendrick "Butch" Grimshaw; brother-in-law, Grover LaFountain; sisters, Mary Ann and Robert Curtis and Kela Guiles; best friend, Steve Pryce; his dog, Baxter; and many nieces and nephews. Skip is predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Karen Grimshaw and Helen LaFountain.