November 13, 1952 - May 9, 2018 Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Gritts family.
It is with heavy hearts we announce that Randall Dwight (Randy) Gritts of Victor, CA is no longer with us. He departed this world on May 9, 2018 surrounded by friends, doing what made him happy; playing pool as part of the Lodi Pool League. He was born in San Francisco, CA on November 13, 1952. He is survived by his mother, Marlene Marquetta (Lamb) Gritts, his sister, Christy Jan (Gritts) Bristow, his daughter, Lesli Carin (Gritts) Diehl, his son, Justin Randall Gritts, and two grandchildren, Caleb Matthew Parkerson and Jordan David Gritts. He is preceded in death by his father, John Dwight Gritts, and his brother, Mark Douglas Gritts.
Randy attended Lodi High School. In 1970, he was awarded a full scholarship from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance from CSU Stanislaus in 1974.
Randy was an entrepreneur at heart. He owned and operated Resort Property Management in Fairfield Bay, AR from 1980-1991. He also designed, built, owned & operated Junction 659 Steakhouse and Saloon in Clinton, AR from 1991 to 1998 and was voted Best Steakhouse in ’95, ’96 & ’97 by the Arkansas Gazette. He had many other noteworthy accomplishments, most of which involved award-winning service at various resorts in the vacation industry. But the one he was most proud of; the one he would want you to know about is his work for the Three Rivers Indian Lodge. As Executive Director, Randy founded Three Rivers Indian Lodge in 1974 and facilitated its move from Stockton to Manteca, California. Their mission was, and continues to be, a place of recovery and new beginnings for the Native American.
A local tribe elder interviewed in 2001, admitted that Native Americans had a problem with alcoholism, but that they couldn’t get the help they desperately sought from their own people. They were ashamed, and wouldn’t admit there was a problem due to the negative stigmata that accompanied it. In this interview, the elder gave credit to Randy for convincing him that a facility run by Natives for Natives was possible. Randy made no empty promise. He brought it to fruition by securing the grants that ultimately funded the facility that still exists today.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was even more revered as a son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew, cousin - and most importantly, friend. He was a kind and generous soul and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service in the Evergreen Chapel followed by a scattering ceremony at the Cascade Scattering Garden will be held on Friday, May 25th at 1 PM at Cherokee Memorial Park located at Hwy 99 & Harney Lane in Lodi, CA. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the First United Methodist Church located at 200 W Oak St, also in Lodi. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made payable to the Randy Gritts Memorial Fund (In care of Lesli Carin Diehl) at any Golden 1 Credit Union or mailed to 2681 Ponderosa Dr, Lodi, CA 95242.
Services
Friday May 25, 2018 at 1:00pm in the Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park located at Hwy 99 and Harney Lane in Lodi, CA.