Written & performed at my first RainSoft Convention, 1990.  (Then I was with Hager's RainSoft, Stafford, Va.)

We'd like to sing a song about,
this man we call John Grayson, 
An' ex Navy man and a pilot too,
loves his golf, roots for Purdue,
Started out with his father,
The Birth Of RainSoft Water.

Yes, he started with his Dad,
and for this we're mighty glad
There's a job to be done,
for this Father & his Son,  in water.

From a humble cigar store,
he would go 'door to door.'
sellin' the model 'Thor' -
it would do so much more,
The Birth Of RainSoft Water, clean soft water !

Then in '63 (or) maybe '64,
 he would show the world
we could do so much more -
set the course for all to follow..
Eight cycles and the Apollo!

It's quite an honor to sing about,
a man who's lifes been water, RainSoft Water.
From the Elk Grove office through
the regions,  to me an you..
We salute our RainSoft father and RainSoft water.

Later came the Q1 and then the Q2
top product lines for me and you, to fix water.

Now three decade have come and gone,
what he has done is alive and strong
John Grayson, we salute thee...
and, 'What Water Was Meant To Be.'
So, from Bensenville in a small cigar store,
He showed the world, ours will do 'so much more.'
Forever RainSoft Water, Clean RainSoft Water..

              - Lyrics to song written / performed at 1990 Convention  -

                       Submitted in loving memory of Mr. Grayson.

Jerry Gilmore
Roanoke, Va.

John always knew exactly what to say to show us how much he loved us.    

I remember a time when I spent an entire weekend drawing several cartoons of Ronnie Raindrop for Newt Davis for a RainSoft Convention at John's request. When the convention was over & John returned to the office, John said "Thanks - Ronnie Raindrop was a big hit". I had hoped John would have shared a little more about the convention highlights or the cartoons I worked so hard on but John was a little pre-occupied with all the office construction we had going on at that time.

A few days later, John called my desk and told me he wanted to give me some good news. I actually thought he was going to tell me that one of our state approvals was accepted when he announced he was giving me a raise. I was speachless and asked why & John's response was "Because you do a great job here & I wouldn't want to lose you to Walt Disney"

John's comment to not want to lose me to Walt Disney was the greatest compliment anyone could have ever given me & of course it was John Grayson who said it to me.    

I was 28 had $ 5.00 in pocket that was all the money I had.

Cy Wolf was the man that brought in to Rain Soft.

Cy gave me two days of training. When I went out on my first lead (which I door knocked)  I made $ 500.00 dollars! I knew I had found my lifes work.
John spent 5 years training me  to make me a better person. John ,thru his generosity gave me my own store and I learnd more at his knee. I left John to open my own store never losing contact with John..No matter what I was doing I called John two or three times a year just to talk.
I truly loved John both as a mentor and a friend . He helped a man with a sixth grade education.become a millionare with two great kids, a super wife and a life I could not have had with out John's help. He helped make me a blessed  man in so many ways . John will never die for me... he will always live in my heart for the good he did and the help he gave to others with out question... not just to me but so many others .
I live in Florida now and  have had my water store for thirty years and   have the honor  of  passing the company to a second generation this all because one man helped another.  I try to play it forward daily.
John was a fair skier, a safe pilot, a good actor but above all John was one hell of a great boss!!

Rest in Peace John, you are loved.
  

Herb Bloom & Barbara Bloom
      .
 

"I was quite young when I met John but, his influence has carried through for many of us. His portrait hangs in our sales room. His legacy will live on, not only in the business he created, but in his kind, giving nature. He was a great man and will be missed."

Dawn Hutmacher 

"Robbie,

Thanks for sharing these wonderful words. I know John did not like the spotlight, always making it about others so I understand him not wanting a service. This just gives us a way to express our love for this wonderful man we all owe so much. He touched so many lives. We do a lot of charity work locally and around the world. Every time we would complete a project I would email or call him and tell him what we had done. He never wanted to take any credit but I would tell him without this wonderful vehicle we call RainSoft none of this would be possible. He was all about helping others and has inspired me to do the same in his honor. Through tuff times I would always think I have to make Mr. Grayson proud. Failure was never an option. I hope people keep sharing their thoughts on this loop. This is helping with our grieving process. My father died when I was eight so my grandfather was my father image. I lost my grandfather at nineteen. He was my hero. Mr Grayson reminded me so much of my grandfather. I was so blessed to spend the day with Betty and Mr Grayson a few months ago. That was on my bucket list. It was a wonderful visit at their home. He took us to lunch at his country club which he was very proud of. Before we left we took a picture in front of his home. I told him  how much I appreciated everything he had done for me and my family. Then I told him in the south we hug. If you know Mr Grayson you know he was not much of a hugger. I hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I told him how much I loved him. When the hug was over we parted and their were tears flowing down both of our cheeks. I would not trade that moment for anything. I have tears flowing down mine as I write this. He was a great man who loved his RainSoft family and we loved him. He will always be in our hearts. Long live Mr. Grayson." 

Bill McGraw

"Hello everyone,

 I received the same email Bob did the other night from John's cousin and did not want to believe it. I was one of those people who believed if anyone was going to live to be 100 it would be John. God must have had another assignment for this incredible man.

 I started with RainSoft in 1976 at a dealership in Florida. In 1979 the factory came calling and off to Chicago I went and is where I got to know John Grayson the person. I was with RainSoft for 32 years until 2008 when I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder with no cure and left RainSoft. One of the first to call me concerned was John Grayson. And we have stayed in touch ever since by phone and email.

 John Grayson was really a simple man. He had four loves. His wife Bette, RainSoft, his family who were the people of RainSoft, and for those who knew him his other love was eating. I don't care what was going on at the factory, but when 11:30 AM came John was going out the door to lunch. And then you had better hurry up and eat because he wanted to get back. And if you were eating too slowly he would help you eat your lunch too. I remember one day going to lunch with him and some fellow from out of town. We all ordered and this fellow ordered this big extravagant lunch because he knew John was buying. The next day we went and when it came time to order John reached over to the fellow and pointed on his menu where the specials were. That ended that.

 John was a master businessman. He was usually the first to the factory and the last to leave. And John never took a vacation. All his trips away were RainSoft related. His passion was RainSoft and the people whose lives depended on it. Many companies call themselves family but in John's case, it was for real. He had no kids of his own. No brothers or sisters. RainSoft people were his family. And John had a big heart of gold. I saw him help countless people in so many ways. And John never wanted anyone to know. In the early 80's when the economy was really bad, 18% mortgage rates, no financing, and businesses were folding all over the country, it was good knowing that John was guiding RainSoft through this economic storm and at the same time RainSoft had its biggest growth spurt. What John knew and he taught us was that when the economy was bad, RainSoft did better. When the economy was good, we had to work harder. Rather than get into it here why, contact me and I will explain. I remember going to a WQA Convention and working our booth with John at that time. People would ask about how the economy affected RainSoft. John's answer was, RainSoft is a recession proof business! And he was correct and our growth proved it. RainSoft was always financially strong. No debt, no mortgages, millions in cash reserve, under John’s leadership. John one time told me, he was his own bank. He never borrowed any money. This was all from starting with just $700.00 like we said in our sales presentations.

 Then the time came John knew he should step aside. People were wondering what was going to happen to RainSoft. What everyone didn't know was John was already working on that question for years prior. This is when Aquion was born. And Aquion was born for one and only one reason. And that was to pass down RainSoft to his family. The employees and dealers of RainSoft. RainSoft was John's baby. His passion. His legacy. Passing it down the way he did was a big deal! When John said RainSoft was a family, his family, he meant it. He told me one time that he could have sold RainSoft for millions and gone on his merry way. Instead, he started Aquion to take care of the people he cared about. My accountant said John was a genius the way he did this. And that was after his first reaction which was he could not believe it. My accountant did not know John as we did. I for one always thought John was a genius anyway. Think about how many people spent their entire working career with RainSoft because of what John set up and laid the foundation for. It is amazing. It is the only place I ever worked and I for one am glad RainSoft is back being controlled and run mainly by RainSoft people at the factory and in the field. And I know John would have wanted it that way too.

 John could also make a point and be funny at the same time. Years ago before computers, he would have all his field reps right daily reports on what was going on in the field. And believe me, he read every single one of them. I was usually late sending mine in. One day I arrived home from the road and there was a big box from the factory for me. It was really light in weight. I opened it up and all that was in it was a note from the desk of John Grayson in his famous green ink that said, Dear Robbie, Your reports are ancient history! John. I still have that note. And I got the point. RainSoft was never work to me. I loved it and everything about it. Still do. Even John's green ink notes.

 I loved John as many of you did too. I talked to him a few weeks ago and he was concerned on how I was doing physically all while he was not doing well himself. He was also concerned about his beloved wife Bette who is not doing well either. So please say a prayer for her. I know some of you in the Chicago will be looking in on her. I know Bob said he will be too.

 John loved all of you. From the person who swept the factory floor, to the newest factory employee, the newest sales rep, or the newest dealer and the people who have been in RainSoft forever. He always had an open door policy. Anyone could call him or go see him. He truly cared. There will never be anyone like him again at least in my lifetime. John would have been 89 years old on December 28. He is our loss for now. But God is sure getting a winner with John Grayson! Don't you agree?

 May God Bless John and long live RainSoft...

 I will miss him dearly."

 Robbie Michels

Shortly after retiring from RainSoft I was having lunch with John and he asked me what my plans for retirement were. I told him that I wasn't sure yet. He asked me how old I was and I told him that I was 56. Then he asked if he could give me some advice. (He was always careful not to appear overbearing with people. Which, I found to be a fasinating attribute of John's because, he was usually 3 - 4 steps ahead of everyone most of the time!) So I said; "Of course John, you've been my mentor for years." He then said; "Well Bob, you're way too young to retire. And you can't take up golf, becasue I have golfed with you before! So, you better find something constructive to do with your time."  Gosh, I miss him.