Grayson Michael Moser

On March 7, 2005, Grayson Michael Moser entered this world as Chris and Gloria Moser’s first son. He had an enormous amount of thick, dark hair for a newborn and his mama’s lovely brown eyes. A new life…and a new beginning for the couple. About two years later, the couple was blessed with another son, who completed their family. From the beginning, Grayson was a happy, rambunctious boy, and he loved his little brother.

Grayson’s spirit left his earthly body on March 21, 2021, to enter the beautiful place called Heaven where he was met with open arms by his Savior, Jesus. A new body…and a new beginning for his eternal life. No more pain and suffering that we experience here on Earth. How appropriate that his homegoing is in the spring when nature is experiencing a new beginning. What’s sad for us whom he leaves behind is that we will no longer experience new manifestations of his kindness, concern for others, spontaneity, and love for interesting (or sometimes uninteresting) trivia.

Among those left behind are his parents, Chris and Gloria Moser; his brother and best friend, Christian Moser; his grandparents, Gail Moser, Gary and Jane Moser, Glenda and Allen Goodwin, and Howard and Brenda Petersen; his great-grandmothers, Evelyn Moser and Lois Greenwell; his aunts and uncles—Denny Moser, Chris Kent, and Geneva Kent; and his cousins—Noah, Eleanor, and Charlie Kent, several great-aunts and great-uncles; plus honorary uncles, Jeremy Fletcher, Cameron Burnette, David Ingram, Adam Richardson. He also leaves behind his cherished little dog, Mr. Brady.

Grayson had a self-confidence that he didn’t inherit from any family members that we know of. Once at the age of four, he walked into a Sunday School class as a visitor at a relative’s church he had never been in and said, “Hey everybody! Look at me! My name’s Grayson! What’s yours?” And he thoroughly enjoyed the attention of playing the lead role of Elvis in a school play in second grade. During his younger years, he enjoyed taking Jiu Jitsu martial arts lessons and participating in Upward Soccer for many seasons.

Grayson is known for his lifelong love of music and for playing in the percussion sections of the Cleveland Middle School and Cleveland High School bands. Before the final 8th grade band performance, he had on a hat made of twisted balloons. We were surprised when he had on a more normal-looking hat during the performance. When asked why, he said, “I decided I wanted Mr. Burton to take me seriously so that he’ll let me be in the 9th grade band.” He enjoyed listening to all types of music—such as jazz, 80’s rock, Elvis, classical, Norwegian Folk, EDM, blue grass, contemporary Christian, gospel quartets, everything.

To his dad’s delight, Grayson developed a love of golf, and his dad taught him the fine points of the game, which led to his being accepted to the Cleveland Middle School golf team for all three years of middle school. He also enjoyed participating in the middle school chess club. As a young teen, he developed an obsession for Minecraft and for YouTube videos. Grayson enjoyed playing Scrabble. Any game he played, he put a lot of thought and strategy into, so playing Scrabble with him would take a very long time. He also liked to make up some words and could argue why they were indeed valid. He was such a friendly, people person, that he loved school…mainly for the social aspect. He loved math and aspired to become an architectural engineer.

Grayson was offered a part-time job as special assistant for the District Attorney in 2020. He absolutely loved going to work to do administrative tasks and learn all about how a DA office operates. Many people have told him over the years he would make an excellent attorney since he’s so great at arguing. And despite many medical obstacles, he proudly earned his Learner’s Permit at age 15 and was able to drive with mom a few times in empty parking lots.

Through his two years of treatment for brain cancer, his bubbly, optimistic, and clever personality still shone through. Even when he used a wheelchair to get around or a leg brace to walk, whenever you asked him how he’s doing, his answer was, “I’m great! How are you?” He rarely, if ever, complained about all the treatments, needle sticks, pain, and suffering he endured.

Grayson was a firm believer of Christian faith. He attended First Baptist Church Cleveland since he was in the womb. He accepted Jesus as his savior and was baptized at age six. One memory of him sharing his faith was when he was around 6th grade, he made a “Honk for Jesus” poster and stood at the end of our neighborhood holding it up for passing cars to see. He loved attending Sunday morning small groups and going to any social gatherings with the youth.

Grayson was a 10th grader at Cleveland High School and would have graduated in the class of 2023. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends. We will miss his quick wit, sense of humor, intelligent conversations, love to debate and argue about anything and everything, and his insistence on always being right. He enjoyed attention and being different. He loved sarcasm, puns, and anti-jokes. One friend appropriately described him as being “unapologetically himself.” We are comforted by thoughts of his new beginning where he can now walk freely, see well, and play marimba and drums with both hands in the heavenly band. He will always live on in our hearts, until we meet again in Heaven.

Visitation will be on Monday, March 29, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1275 Stuart Road NE, Cleveland, Tennessee. The celebration of life service will begin at 6:00 at the same location. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s website, as well as on the website of Companion Funeral Home in Cleveland, Tennessee, for those unable to attend. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to any of the following nonprofits that supported the Moser family during his treatment: Lana’s Love Foundation, Austin Hatcher Foundation, Children’s at Erlanger Foundation, Special Spaces Chattanooga, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, or Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Grayson or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist the Moser family with these arrangements.