If someone went missing, Grady Stanley would often grab his metal detector and join the search.
“He liked looking for people who were lost. Submerged cars in the reservoir, he could find them with his metal detector. He did that out of the goodness of his heart,” said his nephew, Brad Stanley.
But now, it’s Grady who is missing, and his nephew has been actively searching for him for almost two months.
Grady Stanley, 82, went missing in early June. His family, law enforcement and local residents began searching for him immediately after it was reported.
Investigator Greg Collins of the Kosciusko Police Department got a search party together, which included a scent hound. Brad Stanley said the hound only picked up a scent once, which was near a ditch behind Kangaroo Crossing on Veterans Memorial Drive.
Grady’s son reported him missing on June 9. He was last seen wearing a blue baseball hat with the Ford logo on the front. He was also seen wearing a blue jacket, which has been found near Grady’s Kosciusko home. He did not have a cellphone. Brad Stanley said if his uncle was dressed like he normally does, he would be wearing a ring on each hand, a belt buckle, a walking cane and a pearl handle 22 revolver in his pocket.
Grady is small in stature, weighing 88 pounds at 5 feet, 4 inches.
Brad Stanley said his uncle was born prematurely and always remained smaller in size.
“He had to find ways to exist and be little,” he said.
Grady moved to Kosciusko in 1969 and became a well-known gunsmith for many years.
“Most everybody knew him for being a gunsmith. He had shops set up all around central Mississippi,” said Brad Stanley.
Grady’s hobbies became well-know, too. He enjoyed using his metal detecting, and he also enjoyed geology and archeology.
Grady was once in The Star-Herald after he found a button that appeared to be from a coat of a general possibly during the Civil War era. He found it using his metal detector off Highway 23 in Winston County, about three miles from the Attala County line. He also had an extensive collection of Attala County artifacts, and he once had an archaeological display at the Attala County Library. His collection included seashells, arrowheads, coins, military buttons, belt buckles, china, cooking and eating utensils. He had a selection of coins and military buttons dating back to the War of 1812.
“He’s kind, good-hearted, always happy to see anybody,” said Brad Stanley. “He’s really talkative. He had no enemies. I can’t think of anybody who has ever been mad at him.”
Grady’s family is devastated and continue to search. Brad Stanley said his first cousin, Herbert Hisaw, who had terminal cancer, left the hospital to search for his uncle. Hisaw recently passed away.
“If anybody has anything, even if it may seem silly to them or not important, it is important. Any small, minute detail,” said Brad Stanley. “I’ve checked out every one I’ve been sent.”
At this point in the search, the family fears foul play may be involved.
If this is the case, Brad Stanley said, “No questions asked. We would appreciate finding him.” The family would like to have closure. But Grady’s nephew will continue to search until he finds answers.
“He’s a good-hearted person. He would’ve helped anybody. He would have been out looking for somebody had he been able and he had,” said Brad Stanley.
If anyone has any information about Grady Stanely, call Brad Stanley at 662-289-2890 or call Collins at the Kosciusko Police Department at 662-289-3131.
