Memorial held today for DMR officer

A memorial will be held today for DMR officer John Grimsley.

Grimsley, 15-year veteran of Marine Patrol, dies of heart condition

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources said a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday (July 3) at Long Beach Harbor for a 15-year veteran of its marine patrol who died last week from complications of a heart condition.

John Grimsley collapsed Thursday at his home in Diamondhead and died at the Hancock Medical Center. He was 47.

Rusty Pittman, the interim chief of enforcement for Marine Patrol, had worked with Grimsley since both joined the patrol when it was under the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. They transferred to DMR in 1999. Pittman said Grimsley will be missed not only for his professionalism but his personality.

“He was a jokester and a happy-go-lucky guy,” Pittman said. “But he was always very professional when he was doing his job.”

DMR executive director Jamie Miller said the agency is “saddened by the loss of our friend and employee, John Grimsley. He was a good family man and was dedicated to his work, and the entire agency will miss him.”

An Army veteran, Grimsley is survived by his wife, Donna, and two sons, Donovan, 22, and Drake, 19.

About Bobby Cleveland 1342 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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