Mr. Byron Lane Grant Sr.

Born January 27, 1935, in Yreka, California, passed away suddenly at his home after a long bout with his health in Hoopa, California, on September 11, 2010. Bones, a lifetime member of both Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties and member of the Yurok Tribe, grew up along the Salmon River, a river he remained quite fond of. He attended high school in Yreka, California, and started his employment as a hotshot firefighter. Shortly thereafter, he left his home as a young man to serve his country in the Navy during the Korean War on the USS Boxer aircraft carrier. Bones toured all ports of the Pacific Ocean and returned home in December of 1955. Shortly thereafter, Bones fell in love and was married to Eileen "Boo-Boo" Gray in 1956. He and Eileen raised a large family of four girls and a boy. In Hoopa, he was employed at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Roads Department, and later went to work at Humboldt Fir where he found his knack as a catskinner and heavy equipment operator. He eventually became self-employed and established Grant and Colegrove Logging, and later Grant Construction. Bones will long be remembered for his boat racing days in X-15, which began as a co-pilot in doubles racing with Albert "Junky" Gray. Later, he rode solo competitively and eventually, he passed the love of racing onto his son Newt who drove X-15 Jr. Bones enjoyed mentoring other racers up to his final days. During his free time Bones fulfilled the life of an outdoorsman. He was an avid fisherman and hunter who greatly enjoyed spending time outdoors with his closest buddies. He had quite the gambling gene, often enjoying games of Blackjack, Poker, Bingo, betting on sports pools and horse racing, and often seen purchasing a Daily Lotto. Bones was an extraordinarily outgoing man who pitched a conversation with anyone and made friends from all walks of life. He had a sense of humor that could leave you laughing, crying, or just plain mad, but always with the best intentions. He was known for pulling pranks and for telling a tall tale. He also enjoyed sharing his memories with his grandkids and was known to just want to cruise to the Salmon River. With his children he shared the importance of generosity. They will remember him for his loving and giving manner, and for setting the strong example of how to truly love and respect one's parents. To doctors Richard Wolf, Allen Matthews, Karen Ayers and staff, of Eureka Internal Medicine and Dr. Eva Smith of Kimaw Clinic, the family is eternally grateful to you for giving us those extra years, days, and hours, that have become our last precious memories. Bones is survived by his children Edith and Kenny Norton, Vicki and Ted Cole, Maggie and Ted Pearson, Leslie Grant, Lisa Grant, and Julianne and Terry McCovey. His siblings, Josephine Peters, Vivienna Masten, Beryl Grant, Millie Grant, Melissa Morton, Frank and Eleanor Grant, Wayne and Reva Grant, and Reginald Grant. His grandchildren Leilani, Sam, Louisa, Cheyenne, Lovae, Tek-Wes, Heather, Ranold, Future, Nelia, Sadie, Buck-Meat, Romeo, Brooke, Lindsay, Bunners, Natalie, Brammel, McKenzie, Joseph, and Stanley, and 22 great-grandchildren. Numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. His ex-wife Shirley Grant of Reno, Nevada. His family from the Salmon River - Jack, Tina, and Robbie Bennett. His lifetime brothers of the heart - Mike Ferris, Albert "Junky" Gray, and Bill Pearson. And, special friend Judy Farnum. Bones is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Maggie Grant, Sr., his brothers Maurice and Delbert "Beanie" Grant, his son Byron "Newt" Lane Grant, Jr., and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation services will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Paul's Chapel in Arcata, California. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 17, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the Neighborhood Facilities in Hoopa, California. Burial will be immediately following. Pallbearers are Sam Jones, Ranold "Sonnies" Pearson, Jr., Buckmeat McCovey, Romeo McCovey, Cheyenne Norton, Barbara "Bunners" Grant, Brammel McCovey and Joseph McCovey. Honorary pallbearers are Gene Avery, Jack Bennett, Robbie Bennett, Red Brown, Roger Brown, Bob Campbell, III, Ted Cole, Kevin Colegrove, Nolan Colegrove, Sr., Robert England, Mike Ferris, Boyd Ferris, Stan Ferris, Sr., Gary Grant, Steve Gray, Delbert Gray, Walter Gray, III, Albert Gray, Jr., Walter "Bud" Gray, Jr., Murphy Green, Jeff Hodge, Arthur Jones, Rocky Jones, Bob Kane, Jr., Bob Kane, Sr., Victor Knight, Delmer Kyle, Jeff Lewis, John Marshall, Elrod Masten, Thomas "Goods" Masten, Ed Masten, Hank Masten, Rocky McCovey, Inker McCovey, Gordon McCovey, Walt Morton, Kenny Norton, Loren Norton, Merkie Oliver, Ted Pearson, Bill Pearson, Jr., Roger Sanderson, Corky Sims, Art Tonkin, Jr., and Art Tonkin, Sr. Arrangements under the direction of Paul's Chapel, Arcata, CA 707-822-2445, www.paulschapel.com.

Published in Eureka Times-Standard on September 15, 2010