Monday we learned that my Uncle Grant had passed away. He was eighty-four. He had suffered a long time with many health issues. My Aunt Valeen had kept him alive all these years with her unconventional holistic medicine. He had Spinabifida and Epilepsy just to name a few. Let me tell you about the Grant Wood I knew.
My Uncle Grant was one of the kindest, helpful, and thoughtful men I have ever known. Growing up my Dad's brothers and their familieds lived mostly outside of Utah. So when the Clark side of the family would get together, it would be with Uncle Grant and Aunt Valeen & their kids & Grandpa and Grandma Clark and our Family.
I remember vividly as a little girl going boating on their ski boat and going to the Yacht Club at Pineview Reservoir. Grant was also a Car man. He loved cars and was a successful salesmen for many years.
Grant loved to work with his hands. He built an amazing deck on their house in Ogden that spanned the whole length of the house. I fondly remember cookouts on that deck, with the sounds of the creek and a bird's eye view of Mount Ogden. Great Memories.
Grant also was a budding artist. Grant painted the things he loved, including several pictures of his sweetheart Valeen. He was especially good at Landscapes and Nature Scenes.
Grant above all was the consummate gentleman. And the original GQ man. Always dressed to the hilt with a swagger only he could pull off.
He had a great sense of humor and put up with all of us (my brothers and sister). We sure love you Uncle Grant and you will be missed.
Here is his Obituary:
Grant C. Wood returned to live with his Heavenly Father on August 23, 2010. Grant was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho November 18, 1925 to Rulon Samuel Wood and Lorena Call Wood. He was sealed for time and eternity to his eternal companion, Valeen Clark Wood, 63 years ago on September 4, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. He had two children, Clark Grant Wood (deceased) and Shauna Wood Cox. He had 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. He is also survived by 2 brothers, Dennis Wood and Lavor Wood.
Grant lived in Ogden, Utah most of his life. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Ogden Waterfall Canyon Ward. He attended Weber State College, and served as Student Body Treasurer and was a member of the Symphonic Choir. He and Valeen belonged to the Ogden Pineview Yacht Club and enjoyed spending their leisure time boating for over 40 years. He also belonged to the Kiwanis Club of Ogden.
He volunteered for many years as part of the Weber County Jeep Patrol and Boat Patrol volunteering many hours of time on search and rescue missions.
Grant worked at the family business, Wood Motor Co. until 1967. He went to work at Ken Garff Mercedes dealership for 19 years.
Grant was a very talented and gifted artist. He enjoyed music and performed with the Beehive Statesmen Barbershop Chorus for 21 years. He belonged to and performed with the Men of Song for 6 years. He spent his retirement years studying art and painting.
Funeral Services will be held at Leavitt’s Mortuary, Saturday, August 28. There will be a viewing at 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Interment Leavitt’s Aultorest Memorial Park
