Obituary of James A. Gratton

James A. Gratton, 87, of Howell passed away on Friday, January 12, 2018.  A lifelong resident of Monmouth County, Jim was born in Wall and lived in Tinton Falls and Millstone before settling in Howell in 1958.

A graduate of Allentown High School Class of 1949, Jim was a member of the IBEW Local 400 for over 70 years, and served as a business manager for 40 years  prior to his retirement,  and was past president of the Monmouth and Ocean County Building Trades.  He was very involved in town with the youth organizations.  Jim assisted in forming Howell Pop Warner where he served as president, and also coached his boys in Howell Little League.  In recent years, he loved watching his great granddaughter’s little league games.

An avid race fan, Jim was an official at Wall Speedway and enjoyed racing, not missing a race for 50 years.  He made his mark on this community and in the lives of his loved ones, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled.  

He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Olive Gratton; brother, Charles H. Gratton, Jr.; and daughter-in-law, Deborah Kieffer-Gratton.  James is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Dorothy Gratton; daughter, Elizabeth “Betty” Gratton; sons, Robert Gratton and his wife, Lorraine, and William A. “Bill” Gratton; grandchildren, Olga, Amanda and her husband, Brian, and Kelly and her husband, Dan; and great granddaughter, Kylie.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 11:00 AM funeral service on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the funeral home.  Interment will follow in St. Anne’s Cemetery, Wall Township. 

For those who desire, donations in memory of Jim may be made to Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728.  For information, directions or to offer condolences to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com