05/16/2026
Grant Leslie Obituary
Astoria, OR - Astoria lost a beloved one-of-a-kind character on May Day, 2026.
Grant Leslie was born in Astoria September 26, 1962 to Fred and Dorothy Leslie. He grew up east of town in Fernhill where he enjoyed the perks of being a "country kid" - swimming in the John Day River, picking berries, peeling bark for a few $$$, and riding his stingray bike on county roads and (can't believe we did this on gravel shoulders) Highway 30.
Most of the kids went all the way through school together - and they formed the beginning of his "story telling" skills which he expanded over the decades, continually expanding his material to include all the people he met. He had a wealth of information about the huge number of colorful Astoria characters, usually delivered with his unique sense of humor.
Grant attended Astoria schools and enjoyed running cross country and track at Astoria High School, where he graduated in 1980.
He spent years working in canneries, restaurants, the truss company, and seasonally at Fernhill Holly Farms.
The Grant most people knew really came to life after he became disabled several years ago. This was the true Grant, showing his full, unique personality and intelligence.
He was a self-taught harmonica player, and he was GOOD at it! Grant often played at local venues with many different musicians, and the audience loved it. He wrote a lot of his own songs.
He was exceptionally well-read and in recent years had taken up poetry and enjoyed reading and sharing his work with the poetry community.
Grant was a rare conversationalist who spent more time listening than speaking. He got to know people and there were no "cookie cutter" interactions with him.
Those conversations were his greatest gift to those who knew him. He didn't take himself too seriously and helped many people through challenges in their own life journeys. Friends remember how he encouraged them to achieve new goals and reach their potential in becoming their best selves.
Grant is survived by his brother, Brian Leslie; sister-in-law, Berri Leslie; nephew, Henry Leslie; and niece, Eleanor Leslie; along with a large extended family.
The family thanks the countless Astorians who were friends to Grant. The outpouring has been overwhelming.
Within days of Grant's passing, he was honored at a poetry reading at WineKraft, and the next night a karaoke event in Grant's name at Xanadu. A "Grant Walk" was a brainstorm of downtown business owners to retrace the venues he visited on a daily basis.
We also thank Lifeboat Services, who provided safe refuge over the past couple of years.
Donations in Grant's memory can be made to Lifeboat to "Filling Empty Bellies" PO Box 492 Astoria, OR 97103 or online at www.fillingemptybellies.org.
Grant. "We shall resume".
Filling Empty Bellies a project of LiFEBoat Services 501c3
