Grant Hilding Jacobson, Jr., Denton businessman and long-time civic leader, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, following an extended battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 73.

Grant was born at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey on April 28, 1943 to Claire Jacobson (O'Mara) and his father, Grant (Sr.), who at the time was serving in the North African campaign in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Following World War II, his family moved to Florida and then Texas.

Grant spent his formative years in Wichita Falls and Dallas. He attended Dallas Jesuit, and graduated from Dallas' Thomas Jefferson High School in 1962. It was in Dallas that Grant encountered Ms. Arminta Lee Kemp of Roby, Texas, who was then working for Dallas Power and Light. After an extended courtship, Arminta and Grant were married on May 2, 1964 at Roby Methodist Church in Roby, Texas. They moved to Denton in 1966.

Grant attended North Texas State University and studied Finance, before commencing a life-long career in real estate. He worked extensively in the residential finance field for several mortgage companies, as well as national and regional banks. Grant also founded a successful residential real estate brokerage in Denton, and at different points in his career also was involved in commercial real estate finance and property management. In the early 1980s, he was involved in the development of two single-family subdivisions, most notably Wimbelton, located near IH-35 and State School Road. In 1975, Grant served as President of the Denton Board of Realtors and was named 1978 "Realtor of the Year."

During his life, Grant was a committed leader toward improving Denton for current and future generations, serving in a number of community leadership roles, including: Denton High School PTA (President, 1986), City of Denton Zoning Board of Adjustment (2000-2005), Denton County Child Protective Services Board (2000-2007), Denton Parks Foundation (Treasurer, 2000-2006), Denton Main Street Association (Treasurer, 2000-2003), and Denton Tennis Association (President, 1996). Grant was also a 1998 graduate of Leadership Denton. However, he was most fond of his service to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, where Grant served as an Elder and usher.

Grant will be remembered by those who knew him as a kind, engaging, generous, professional, hard-working and good-humored man. His family will always treasure his constant love, his daily service for their benefit, and the many private sacrifices he made to ensure that his wife and sons never had to.

He is survived by his loving wife, Arminta Lee (Kemp) Jacobson, his two sons (Grant "Trey" Jacobson III of San Antonio, Texas and Kyle Jacobson of Alexandria, Virginia), his daughters-in-law (Leah and Lisa), and his five grandchildren (Andrew, Emily, Anders, Erik and Katherine Claire Jacobson). The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Linda Shaw and Solaris Hospice, both of which provided loving care to Grant in his final months.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Denton on Friday, June 24, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations honoring Grant be made instead to either St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or the Michael J. Fox Foundation, in support of its research toward a cure for Parkinson's disease.