(Grady) Jerry Sailors Birt, 73, of Bella Vista, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2022. He was born March 19, 1949, Grady grew up in Oxford, Nebraska and lived in Burbank, California for over 40 years, before retiring to Bella Vista in 2015.

Early in life Grady left Oxford to pursue a career as an actor/screenwriter and headed to New York to study acting. A couple of years later he headed to Hollywood, California to study at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute – Los Angeles where he also met his wife, Carolyn in an acting class he was teaching. After small parts in film & theater, he pursued a career in the industry, but behind the scenes. Grady retired out of ABC/Disney I.A.T.S.E local 33 head of staging services in 2015. Grady enjoyed his retirement at his lake home. He enjoyed boating, get togethers with his neighbors, his family and especially his grandchildren. His grandchildren and great grandchildren meant the world to him as they put it, "Best Papa Ever". If you knew Grady, you knew his great passion for the Nebraska Corn Huskers Football team. Grady also had a relationship with the Lord and had studied the bible extensively. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him". John 3:16-17

Grady was preceded in death by his parents Dean & Jean Birt; his father, Donald (Tom) Jean Sailors; grandparents, Guy and Ruth Sailors, Gay and Elsie Furse, and Harry and Gertrude Birt.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carolyn; son, Nick Birt (Kerri) of Nebraska; step-daughters, Rhonda (Greg) Rothermich of California, Michelle (Scott) Rowan of Ohio, and Lisa (Clay) Massey of Texas; grandchildren, Alex, Bailey, Corrina, Alicia, James, Clint, Staci, Morgan, and Joe; great grandchildren, Cam, Jase, Karsen, Lainey, and Maddox; brother, Tom (TE) Birt; sisters, Gaye (Doug) McCallum, Kelli (Tom) Urbanek; and all of his nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life for Grady on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Village Baptist Church, 380 Glasgow Road #3500, Bella Vista, AR 72715, with a luncheon to follow immediately after.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.  On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.