Our Grandpa, Joseph William Grant Jr passed away on February 5, 2019. He was 91 years old. We are sad but know he has lived a good life. He has always been a loving Grandpa to my husband Kevin. This picture was taken on Thanksgiving of 1979. It has four generations of the Grant family represented; Susan Grant (mother), Bill Grant, Susan Foster, and my husband Kevin.
Kev shared these memories, "When I think of some of my favorite memories of Grandpa I think of his favorite wake up song. "It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up in the morning!" I was not a morning person as a kid but have fond memories of that when I would spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house before heading to the Ranch, water skiing, or fishing. Grandpa taught me how to fish and even taught me to gut and clean them. He would stay by my side coaching me when I hated touching the fish! I love the camping at Trial Lake tradition he started with my Aunts and Uncles that he and my mom carried on. I now carry on that same tradition every year with my family. I love that he and Grandma had the Ranch Family reunion for us each year. So many memories. I will also always remember the hard candy sucking competitions we would have each Sunday at their house as a kid. It was always worth a PB Crunch treat. I will miss Grandpa tremendously but am grateful for all the memories I have with him and also the memories my wife and children have with him too."
I am very grateful to have married into such a strong, loving, and supportive family! This picture was taken on our wedding day May 18, 2001. I am blessed to have had the last 18 years to get to know Grandpa and Grandma Grant. They have been accepting and supportive of our family from the start.
Our daughter Mckenna was born on June 19, 2002. She is Grandpas first great grandchild. He came down to Provo to meet her when she was a couple days old. Grandpa had a favorite expression that was, "I'm going to the springs". He asked Kenna when she was a toddler if she wanted to go to "the springs" with him. Kenna was very surprised when it turned out to be a nap. The next time he asked her she didn't fall for it!
One of our favorite family traditions that Grandpa started was at Reid Ranch. We gather every July to spend three days together with the Grant side of the family. Mckenna was a month old on her first visit.
Parker Grant Foster was born on December 23, 2004. He is the first great grandson of Grandpa. We gave him the middle name of Grant after Kevin and also Grandpa.
Parker shared these thoughts about his Great Grandpa. "I love how Grandpa was always there at my big life events like my baptism, Aaronic Priesthood Ordination, and birthday parties. I love how he always bore his testimony each year at the Ranch. He is the person who got me excited about family history. He always had plenty of names for me to take to the temple. He used to always ask me if I wanted to go to the "Springs". I did once but didn't fall for that again. He gave me many things that I enjoy to use such as his old Kindle and a football. When I play with those I remember him. I also have really good memories of him coming up to Trial Lake with us when we were camping. He helped strengthen my testimony of the Gospel. I will miss him but know he is in a better place."
Grandpa and Grandma have always come to celebrate our kids birthdays with us. We loved having them come.
We look forward to the Grant family Christmas party every year. In 2007 it was at cousin Melanie and Trent's house in Springville. Grandpa has a tradition of reading a short story called, "Davy's Christmas" to the great-grandkids. He also read the story to my husband when he was a kid.
Our favorite tradition that Grandpa started was camping at Trial Lake. He loved to fish and shared that with all of us. He had lots of fun fishing stories to share with us as well. He would say to me, "Did I ever tell you about the time Kevin first gutted a fish?'" It was one of his favorite stories to tell me. He laughed every time about how Kevin used a stick to help gut the fish because he didn't want to touch it with his hands!
He was always the sweetest Great Grandpa to my kids. He showed them how to skip rocks by the lake. He could always get them to laugh with his tricks. He would put a pen under his nose and hold it with his lip. Then he would dramatically drop the pen.
Mckenna shared these memories about her Great Grandpa. "My favorite thing about Great Grandpa is that whenever I saw him he would always say, "Why Hello Mckenna! How are you?" he always wanted to know how I was doing or what was going on in my life. I also loved being the oldest great grandchild because Grandpa would always pick me to be his helper--especially at the ranch. He would always ask me to help pass out candy at the Grant family program and it made me feel special. Another tender moment I remember is when he wanted to come join the family at the campfire at the ranch, but I didn't want him to sit on a log so I brought him and Grandma some plastic chairs to sit on. I loved being able to help make them happy. I'm definitely going to miss seeing him and Grandma together."
Grandpa and Grandma Grant came to Mckenna's baptism on July 3, 2010. Grandpa gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. I will never forget how he brought a quilt and wrapped Mckenna up in it. He shared how the Holy Ghost feels like the comfort of a warm blanket.
We take a family picture every year when we are up at the Reid Ranch. This one was taken in the Summer of 2010.
When we are at the Ranch Grandpa and Grandma like to be involved in everything that's going on. In this picture they were watching the great-grandkids participate in family Olympic events.
I caught this sweet moment of Grandpa walking with Halle down to dinner. Halle shared these memories, "My memory of Grandpa is the little yellow shaped bunny box that he carried around in his pocket. He always made sure he had smarties, M&M's or skittles in it. He would call you over to wherever he was sitting, open the box, and let you take as many as you wanted (which in some cases meant all of it) That was the best thing ever!"
Addy also shared, "I remember his M&M package in his pocket. He always carried it around with him where ever he would go. He always gave me some. I loved that! I loved visiting him at his house and seeing his cuckoo clock. I am going to miss him at family birthday parties and pictures. I love him."
One year at Hayden's birthday party he kept giving his presents to Grandpa. Then Grandpa would tease him and say "Do you want me to open it?" Hayden would just smile and laugh. I realized that I had told Hayden not to open his presents until everyone arrived. He figured if he had Grandpa open them for him he wouldn't be in trouble.
Spencer came home from his mission to California in August of 2014. We were all excited to see him. Grandpa Grant is holding up one of the welcome home posters in this picture. Grandpa's sister Lois was also there with us that day.
We were happy to have Grandpa and Grandma with us at Halle's baptism on March 7, 2015.
Grandpa loved to tickle Hayden every chance that he could and Hayden loved having his attention.
I laugh every time I look at this picture of Grandpa. He is covering his ears and trying to block out some of the noise. Family parties at our house can get really loud sometimes!
Aubrey was baptized in May of 2015. We took a picture of Grandpa and Grandma with their Foster Great Grandkids.
One year at our family reunion Grandpa even let Aubrey paint his fingernails. It is just more proof of what a fun Great Grandpa he was.
Grandpa and Grandma came to celebrate Hayden's 6th birthday on July 17, 2015. Hayden shared these memories about Great Grandpa. "When I think of Grandpa Grant I think of the Ranch. I love all the activities and fun traditions we have there. I liked to visit him and Grandma at their house. I remember the yellow bunny case that had M&M's inside. Those were my favorite treat from him. He always had sucker and licorice too. I didn't like his black licorice though. I love the cuckoo clock at their house too. I remember him and Grandma always coming to my birthday parties each year and the money that they would give me. I will miss Great Grandpa."
We also look forward to our Grant Family party at the cabin every winter. We ride snowmobiles, eat lunch, and enjoy talking with each other. Grandpa and Grandma were always up for a good game of Mormon Bridge.
Kevin's sister Lisa passed away on April 26, 2016. It was hard for Grandpa and Grandma to have another grandchild pass away at a young age. We took this picture up at the cemetery in Midway. We really felt the love and support from all the Grant family at such a sad and difficult time in our lives.
In June of that year we had YW camp at Reid Ranch. I went as a leader and Mckenna was also there as a Beehive. One morning I was walking through camp and when I looked ahead I was surprised to see Grandpa! He had come up for the day to bring Spence and cousin Hailey the truck. I sat by him and we ate our lunch together. It is one of my favorite memories with him.
Every year at the reunion we also have a night where we have a family devotional. Grandpa and Grandma share stories about our ancestors. Grandpa would sometimes have a question and answer session with the grandkids. He would hand out Hershey bars for right answers. Grandpa chose Mckenna to sit up front and hand out the candy bars.
The older Grandpa got the harder it was for him to get around. It was sweet to see Mckenna help him walk back to the lodge that night.
Addy loved to play games with her Great Grandpa. I'm not sure what this one was about. But she was delighted when Grandpa and Grandma both wore cones on their heads just for her.
We took some family pictures with Grandpa and Grandma a the Christmas party in 2016.
Parker turned twelve and he received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday January 8, 2017. It was memorable for Parker to have both his living Great Grandpas there at the ordination.
Grandpa had a love of family history work and shared that passion with others. He always made sure that Parker and Mckenna had family names to take to the temple. I will always think of him every time I see a pink or blue card with a temple name.
It was about a month later that Grandpas health declined. It started as an infection in his leg that led to him losing a lot of weight. We were happy he still made the effort to come to the reunion even though he wasn't feeling good.
The gospel and his family were his first priorities. I will always remember him sharing his testimony with all of us.
Hayden was baptized on August 5, 2017. It was special to have all his great grandparents there. Grandpa was on oxygen by this point.
The last few years of his life Grandpa went through the trial of having bone cancer. He never complained or ever let on that he was feeling pain. He still kept coming and supporting all of us. He came out for Parker's birthday party on December 21, 2018. He and Grandma got cold so I got my big fleece blanket at put it over them. Grandpa had a big smile on his face. We were able to visit Grandpa a couple times in January at his home. We also had the chance to tell him goodbye.
This picture was taken on November 23, 1949 of Grandpa and Grandma on their wedding day. They celebrated their 69th anniversary in November of last year. They have set the perfect example of what a marriage should be. They have seven children, 26 grandchildren, and 68 great-grandchildren. We are blessed to be a part of their posterity! We love you Grandpa and will never forget you!
