Grayson Eugene McNair passed away on March 29, 2025, at Country Meadows, Allentown. He was born to the late Irving Sr. and Lucie (Wagstaff) McNair of Emmaus on December 16, 1940. In 1958, he graduated from Emmaus High School as valedictorian and in 1962 from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Engineering.

At Virginia, he was a member of the Alpha Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity and served as president for two years. Grayson met his future wife, Janet (Jan) Wieder, at a party during the Christmas holiday when both were sophomores in college. She lived in Allentown and was a student at Muhlenberg College. They kept in touch via written letters and during summer vacations. After graduation, they were married on August 18, 1962, at Egner Memorial Chapel on the campus of Muhlenberg. They celebrated 62 years of loving marriage in 2024.

A son, Douglas Grayson, was born to the couple in 1963. Soon to follow, in 1966, a daughter, Kerry Ann, entered their lives. Sadly, she was born with an inoperable congenital heart defect and passed away when she was two and a half months old. Joy returned to the family with the birth of another son, Timothy Eugene, in 1968.

After college graduation, Grayson joined PP&L as a graduate trainee, where he served as a distribution engineer. He worked on the protective relaying design for the utility's first 500,000-volt transmission lines, then became involved in interconnection planning projects. He was a Transmission & Distribution Engineer for four years before being named Assistant Manager of Rates & Market Research in 1975. He was named Manager of Conservation Services in 1978 and Vice President of Marketing & Customer Services in 1980. From 1987 to 1989, he was on a rotation assignment as Vice President of System Power. Grayson retired from the company after 32 years, the final five years as Vice President of the Lehigh Division.

He was a Registered Professional Engineer in PA and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Always active in engineering and community affairs, Grayson was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Lehigh Valley Society of Professional Engineers, then Engineer of the Year. He served on the board of Barry Isett & Associates.

He served the community in many leadership roles, including Chairman of the United Way of Lehigh County and the first Chair of the merged United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley-Northampton-Warren Counties; Chair of the Diamond Center for Economic Education at Lehigh University; President of the Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America; board member of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches; member of the Allentown Rotary Club; board member of Kids Peace; Chair of the Emmaus Planning Commission; and Director of the Computer Fund Campaign for the Emmaus Public Library.

Active in his church, The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, he served as an assisting minister, on Church Council, Sunday School Superintendent, and emcee for the church's 50th anniversary banquet. With Jan, he worked as a volunteer behind the desk at the Emmaus Public Library.

Despite his job responsibilities and community service, Grayson always had time for his sons' activities. He first served as a Webelos BSA leader in his home. He accompanied the boys on many scouting trips, jamborees, and paper drives. Both sons are Eagle Scouts, making their dad very proud since he attained only Life Scout! As an adult, he advanced through the scouting ranks to become president of the Minsi Trails Council. He was a member of the Order of the Arrow and received the Silver Beaver Award.

The family annually took trips and especially loved their time together at Lake Wallenpaupack. There, Captain McNair drove their pontoon boat so both boys and friends could water ski or go tubing. In the winter, they tobogganed down a snowy hill onto the frozen lake. Afterwards, they enjoyed the hot chocolate Jan had waiting for them at the cabin.

Jan and their family were the most important people in his life. She was encouraged by Grayson to pursue her interests, and he always supported her, but like him, she most enjoyed being with family. Later, the birth of their two granddaughters was the icing on the cake for both, who dearly loved the girls and enjoyed many activities together over the years.

After retirement, Grayson continued his community service and took on other positions when asked. He stepped in as Interim Director of the Lehigh Valley Food Bank. Later, he was appointed by Lehigh Carbon Community College as Executive Director of the College Foundation. In 1994, he was encouraged by friends to enter politics. After a successful campaign with the help of many friends and acquaintances, he was elected a Lehigh County Commissioner in 1995 and again in 1999. Midway through his second term, in 2001, he was appointed Director of Human Services for Lehigh County. He retired from that position in 2006.

At Emmaus High, Grayson played varsity football and was awarded the Player's Player Award in his senior year. As an adult, he enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He claimed a large part of his basement for the construction of a large train table, on which he built a complicated layout of tracks for his many engines and cars. Some were from his childhood, while others were acquired over the years. He and his sons loved to visit train displays and sales, where he acquired much of his collection. He never missed the annual First Frost and Spring Thaw shows at the Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Besides trains, he had a large collection of mugs and caps displayed in his basement.

Grayson was known by many during his lifetime. He respected all with whom he worked on any level. He was a great role model for his sons, teaching them the value of family, faith, hard work, love, and compassion. He will be missed by many, especially his family.

Grayson is survived by his loving wife, Jan; son Douglas (wife Kathy); son Timothy (wife Kimberly); granddaughters Emily Anne (of Atlanta) and Addison Rhea (of DC); brothers Irving Jr. (wife Drusilla) of SC and Charles (wife Anne) of NJ; stepsister Mildred Runkle; nieces Evelyn McNair and Christine Antonius; and many cousins.

He was predeceased by his infant daughter, Kerry Ann; parents, Irving Sr. and Lucie McNair; nephews Jefferson Cabell McNair and James Irving McNair; stepmother Ruby McNair; parents-in-law, Carl and Cecelia Wieder; and many aunts and uncles.

A funeral service to celebrate and honor Grayson's life will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM in Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., 250 Main Street, Emmaus. Viewing 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Northwood Cemetery, Emmaus. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Grayson's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Floor 47, Chicago, IL 60601. ​​