AUGUSTA ? Vida Helen Grant, 89, a longtime Augusta resident, died Wednesday,Aug. 27, 2003, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, Glenridge Drive. She was born in Portland on July 31, 1914, the daughter of Arthur Jerome and Etta Louise Grant. They died when Vida was 2, so Carroll and Violet Watson of Skowhegan and Augusta raised her. Vida lived in Skowhegan, Branch Mills, Palermo and Augusta. She graduated from Erskine Academy in 1931. As a member of Centenary Methodist Church in Skowhegan, Vida played piano and organ at church services for many years. At one time, she was a member of Green Street Methodist Church. Vida worked for the Maine State Police, submitting accident reports until her retirement. Miss Grant remained close to her brother, Brian, who was adopted by another family. He became a pilot and died in a plane crash at an early age. He was her inspiration to learn to fly. Planes quickly became her passion. Vida was the first woman in Maine to obtain a commercial pilot's license and was an original member of the Amelia Earhart 99 Club. During World War II, she served as an officer in the Civil Air Patrol. Throughout her life, Vida was a great lover of cats, entering several in Maine cat shows. Photography was another interest. She often photographed her cats and had the photos published in the Kennebec Journal. Survivors include her sister, Ada Snyder, of Augusta; and nephew, Carroll Roy (Watson) Snyder and his wife, Susan, of North Palm Beach, Fla. Friends may visit 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta. Prayers and remembrances will be held at 7 p.m. that evening. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, at the Centenary Methodist Church, in Skowhegan. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Centenary Methodist Church, 103 Dr. Mann Road, Skowhegan 04976, or the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, Pet Haven Lane, Augusta 04330. Many thanks go to Linda Gero and the staff at the Alzheimer's Care Center in Gardiner, and MaineGeneral Rehabilitation for the fine care given to Vida.