Hundreds of people packed into Tehachapi High School's gymnasium to honor Ed Grimes, the mayor of the Kern County city who passed away last week after a brief battle with colon cancer.
The memorial service began just after 11 a.m. and featured speakers including City Manager Greg Garrett and Michael Grimes, Ed's son.
Speakers mentioned Grimes' dedication to the city of Tehachapi, his faith in God and his love for his family. They also talked about his tough upbringing in foster care and his generosity towards Tehachapi's youth. In addition to his work with the high school football team as the "Voice of the Warriors," Grimes also used his stipend from serving on the city council to fund a scholarship for local youth.
Recognizable faces in the crowd on Tuesday included Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh, past assemblywoman Shannon Grove, and Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner.
Grimes served as mayor for three separate terms. The city of Tehachapi says that, unless the council decides otherwise, mayor pro-tem Susan Wiggins will continue to serve as acting mayor until someone is appointed to fill Grimes' seat in December.
