The Rev. Melvin Hughdeen Grant , 84, of Moore died of congestive heart failure March 18.

His evangelical accomplishments were: As an Ordained Bishop of the Church of God, Grant saw and participated in the changing of hundreds of lives by nothing more explicable than the Spirit of God. While statistics alone do not tell the story, the dates, places and sheet numbers do not reflect the blessings of God upon his ministry. In the58 years that Grant and his wife worked in the ministry, they were the pastors of ten churches: He served as District Overseer for 14 years, served on the State Council 13 years, and on the State Evangelism and State Ministerial Examining Boards for ten years. He preached at seven state convention meetings and also preached to an audience of 20,000 at a gospel music performance. He has been written about in several publications and magazines. Grant has made eight missionary journeys abroad. He ministered in Austria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, France, Italy, Greece, Isle of Patmos, Germany, Australia, and British Isles, Paris, Scotland, Thailand, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and many states including Alaska, Hawaii and the commonwealth Puerto Rico.

He earned an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture in McAlester after the war and later received his high school diploma in Moore.

Rev. Grant served his country in one of the worst battles of World War II in Okinawa, serving as a flame-thrower operator, he defined the word bravery. After the war, with the help of his family and ultimately his faith, he led a rich full life. His love of country and of God had helped make the world a better place. Melvin Grant, whose scrappy upbringing during the Great Depression gave him the survival experience and fortitude to come home a tired hero ready to rebuild a new life in the greatest nation on Earth. His life was well lived.

He was the ninth of 16 children and was born March 30, 1923, to Elige Buchannan and Hattie Bell Grant. The surviving siblings are Alvin Grant of Napa, Calif., Coleta McClelland of Brentwood, Calif., Elige Grant, III of Oakley, Calif., Clifford Grant of McAlester and Maxine McClelland of Tucson, Ariz.

He and his wife of 65 years, Kate Weeks Grant, have five children, Laquetta Grant Brummett and her husband Herb Brummett of Atlanta, Gary and his spouse Rosetta of Dallas, Dwight Grant (deceased), Ted Grant and his spouse Sally of Lake Kiowa, Texas and Michael Grant and his spouse Angela of Oklahoma City; 12 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren and one on the way.

Visitation and viewing were March 20 at the Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary, 6934 S. Western Ave. Services were March 21 at Vondel Smith South Colonial Chapel. Committal service was March 21 at Ulan Cemetery in McAlester.