DAUPHIN, Pa. — Grant G. Durrell, 36, of Dauphin, Pa., passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 27. He was the loving husband of Emily J. (Beaumont) Durrell.

He was born Feb. 20, 1977, in Farmington, the son of Gilbert C. and Constance (Blais) Durrell, Grant grew up along the shores of Clearwater Lake in Industry and spent much of his childhood in or on the water, swimming, water skiing, or snowmobiling.

When Grant was 12, a friend introduced him to guitar. Grant was immediately hooked, and took up the guitar with intense passion, a pattern that would be repeated many times throughout his life. He started a guitar club in high school and played in a variety of local bands, including Backwater Blues Revival, Leap of Faith and Greater Purpose. Grant would play his guitar for anyone on any occasion: home, church, conferences, school functions, the classroom, coffee houses, weddings and even with Mike Huckabee. He enjoyed and played a wide variety of musical styles, but blues always had a special place in his heart.

While in high school, Grant found another passion, one that would have a tremendous impact on his life: Spanish. He consumed and was consumed, not only by the intricacies and inner workings of the language, but by Hispanic cultures as well. Grant convinced his parents to host a Mexican exchange student for a semester during his junior year and spent his entire senior year in Mexico. He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington, with a degree in Spanish/sociology. His love and mastery of Spanish led to a career teaching Spanish. Grant was even the editor of a Spanish text book for young children.

It was in college that Grant met the love of his life, Emily Beaumont. They met through the UMF Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, where both were active. Following their marriage on June 17, 2000, Grant and Emily spent a year in Orono, where they ministered for the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Maine. The following year they ministered at the Salvation Army — Jubilee House in Boston and while there Grant was encouraged to go to seminary school. It was also during this time that their first child, Josiah was born, July 17, 2002. Soon after, Grant, Emily and Josiah moved to Jackson, Miss., where Grant attended the Reformed Theological Seminary School. While in Mississippi a second son, Ethan, was born on Dec. 23, 2003.

After he completed two years at Reformed Theological Seminary, Grant was offered a job teaching high school theology/Spanish plus sixth grade Bible/literature/history at Covenant Christian Academy in Harrisburg, Pa. This was a dream job that allowed him to combine two of his passions, Spanish and his faith. During his nine years at CCA he also taught Greek.

The family settled down in Pennsylvania. Grant enjoyed hiking, camping and biking with his family. Grant biked everywhere, including multiple trips from Pennsylvania to Maine. In 2012, Grant and Josiah made the trip to Maine on a tandem bike.

Grant was a loving husband and father, a caring and giving friend, lifelong learner and a devoted Christian. He is greatly missed by all.

He is survived by his parents; his wife; his two sons; his sister, Lynelle and husband, John Schumacher, of Zurich, Switzerland; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

We invite you to leave a message at Grant’s online guest book www.legacy.com (key in Grant, Durrell, Pa., 6 months) and then click “visit guest book.”