There aren't enough pixels to capture the magic of Ethan Grace's life. And while cancer was able to hit him with enough tumors to end his life Friday, April 11, 2025, death isn't strong enough to erase the tremendous joy and love he brought the world.

Born Rene Ethan Grace August 1, 1971, he went by Ethan. August first fell on a Sunday the year he was born, and he more than lived up to the old nursery rhyme depiction of Sunday's child: happy, enthusiastic, friendly, and cheerful. After graduating high school, Ethan joined the Marines, where he found an ethos and brotherhood that stayed with him throughout his life. He served from January 1992 to January 1998, rising to the rank of Sergeant, E-5, in the USMC Security Forces, responsible for security and accountability of assets deemed vital to national security. Along the way, he married long-time friend Cory Herl (Grace). Although the marriage eventually faltered, the friendship endured, and the union produced a daughter, Forest Lily Rocks (formerly Lily Madison Grace), of whom he was tremendously proud. While working full time, Ethan applied the Marine "can-do" attitude and continued his education, taking courses in computer science at the University of Maryland and earning a B.S. in Information Technology Management from American Military University in 2011, as well as a Master's in Technology Management from Georgetown University in 2018. Throughout his career, Ethan provided IT program and project management support inside the beltway and out, working with companies including Hewlett Packard and iSenpai, LLC, before starting his final position as project manager at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January 2020. Managing budgets, deadlines, and sometimes conflicting priorities seemed to come easily to him, as he had both a strong understanding of the technical requirements and a kindness and patience that enabled him to work well with everyone. Over the years, he earned commendations and awards too numerous to list here in both his military service and his civilian positions.

In his off hours, you could find Ethan playing bass guitar with his current bandmates, or practicing along to a YouTube lesson, always trying to improve his skills. Those in the Eastern Panhandle of WV might have seen him play with Old No. 7, Nagavora, or the Walleyed Whisky Sippers. Plans for a concert with his current band (Yellowplush) unfortunately took a back seat as his health declined.

Despite being in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and finally participating in a Phase 1 clinical trial, in the past year, Ethan enjoyed checking off a number of Bucket List items. He and his wife Ann saw more bands than you can count (including traveling to Charleston, SC to see the Violent Femmes), road tripped from Asheville, NC to Bar Harbor, Maine, took in Broadway and comedy shows, splurged on great tickets to see the Commanders host Dallas (he'd picked QB Jayden Daniels long before the actual NFL draft), visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, and so much more—finding ways to "roll around in the joy" of the moment. No one enjoyed just hanging out, watching a funny movie or TV show on the couch together, snuggling, more than Ethan and Ann did. And he found ways to make her feel loved and taken care of even after death: The ultimate planner, Ethan left a series of love-filled standard operating procedures for Ann to guide her through the first few days and weeks without him.

In addition to his wife Ann and daughter Forest, Ethan is survived by his stepson Sean, father Rene Earle Grace (Marilyn), mother Susan Smith Grace, sister Leslie Grace Graham (Michael), stepsister Nancy Rhyne, stepbrother Edward Rhyne (Natalia), nephews Brandon and Donovan Miller, step nephew Dustin Graham (Hayley), niece Kathryn Rose Graham, step niece Alexandra Rhyne, and favorite uncle Tom Smith.

Memorial service will be held on May 17, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, with Linda Suzuki officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the following organizations to extend Ethan's legacy through support of causes important to him: The Call on Me Foundation – A 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by five Marine Corps veterans and staffed by unpaid volunteers that provides short-term financial relief to families of veterans who pass away unexpectedly (https://thecallonmefoundation.com/donate/); the Musicians Cancer Fund @Sweet Relief (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), which provides support and resources to musicians and others in the music industry battling/recovering from all forms of cancer and other debilitating illnesses/injury (https://www.sweetrelief.org/the-musicians-cancer-fund.html); and the nonprofit Hospice of the Panhandle, whose loving care and support as Ethan approached the end of his life will never be forgotten ( https://hospiceotp.org/donate/) .

"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality."

– Emily Dickinson