“FIREWATER”
Jan. 21, 1954-April 12, 2021
Graveside services for Climmer Harrison Grillette Sr., 67, of Ringgold will be Wednesday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ringgold, under the direction of Rockett Funeral Home, Ringgold. Officiating will be Elder Keith Hammett.
He was born Jan. 21, 1954, in Natchitoches and passed away April 12, 2021, in Minden.
He was a member of the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana. His Native American name was Firewater. We knew him mostly as Clim or Paw.
He quit school and went to work at age 15 after his father suddenly passed away. He was determined to help, be the man of the house and take care of his family. He worked in the woods logging and also doing construction with Tracy Grillette Contractors in Shreveport. He was one of the best backhoe, dozer and other heavy equipment operators. He loved fishing and loved eating fried fish even more. Hunting was another passion. He would set out walking through the woods and come back with his squirrel limit each time. He once came back with squirrels stuffed in his boots because he ran out of room in his vest.
He was a hard worker and worked with his hands all his life. Anytime we thought something was too hard he would tell us nothing was impossible; it was just mind over matter. We also heard many times that there was no such word as can’t. He would say where there’s a will, there’s a way. He was quiet, kept his thoughts to himself most of the time, but would always share his advice with us when we asked. He was a problem solver and an extremely hard worker until his health began to decline. Even then, he still tried doing things he shouldn’t have been doing.
The joy of his life was his family and his many grandkids, and he would never send them on their way empty handed. He always had to find something to send home with them. He loved his junk food and especially loved a rare steak seared in a skillet of butter. Him leaving us will be a void in our hearts, but we are also so thankful he isn’t suffering anymore through the many ailments that he’s had for many years. He will be missed by us all.
Clim is preceded in death by his parents, William and Ella Grillette; stepfather, Dean Walker; and a son, Climmer Harrison Grillette Jr.
Left to cherish his memory include his wife of 35 years, Sandra Grillette of Ringgold; sons, DeWayne Freeman of Winnfield, William Grillette of Indiana, Jason Grillette of Ringgold and Anthony Dryden of Campti; daughter, Charlene Hammett and husband Keith of Jamestown; brothers, Phillip Grillette of Campti, William James Grillette and wife Penny of Castor and Daniel Walker of Bienville; sister, Barbara Ann Edwards of Jamestown and two other sisters; special friend, Tommy Dale Perot of Campti; 17 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be Patrick Hammett, Adam Grillette, Kyle Grillette, Chris Sullivan, Tracy Sullivan and Dallas Desadier.
