Dana Earle Gravatt
, California
October 4, 2026
Dana E. Gravatt was born April 10, 1950, in Berkeley, California to Kenath and Kathleen. He was raised in Auburn with his siblings, Diane, Tom, Scott, and Kirk, in a home built by their father. A 1968 graduate of Placer High School, Dana worked at a local butcher shop before serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He later volunteered at the Meadow Vista Fire Department, managed Meadow Vista Water District, and at the same time, ran a knife-sharpening business. He later became Lead Inspector for South Placer MUD in Rocklin, retiring in 2005.A lifelong blacksmith, Dana made his first pocket knife at age 10 and went on to forge custom knives signed with his name for many years. He passed this talent onto his son, Mark. Dana was also a gifted singer and musician who carried on his father’s love of music. He sang in bars and special…