Contributions to the tribute of Grant Kelts

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Monday, July 29, 2024

I met Grant when I moved to Consort in spring of 2010, and brought two mares to board at his place. They didn’t last long, were quickly sold and replaced with one pretty special horse from Grant named Roanie. We still refer to him as “Grant’s horse”, and I always will. They have a lot of the same characteristics; in his old age Roanie is a little sore and arthritic, his teeth aren’t what they used to be. He is mostly retired, but if I bring him in and saddle up, he gives everything he’s got without question. He loved to work cattle, and still gets in to a little trouble now and then. I boarded horses there for a lot of years, and had lots of adventures with Grant. The first time I cut Grant’s hair, he requested it be done outside, on the sage where he wouldn’t be able to see how much grey was coming in. Once we drove down to a reining show in Medicine Hat, where I over spun my horse and should have been disqualified, yet still received a score. My mum was there to watch, and asked Grant about it; what would he have given as a score? He held up what was left of his fingers in a big “0”. Grant gave me opportunities on horses I never would have had otherwise, and I will always be so grateful for that. Grant was a huge part of my life. Even after I moved away, we stayed in touch and I would often stop for lunch or just to visit (though I usually passed on the Pilsners). Grant was there for me in good times and bad. He was an excellent teacher, cowboy, and horseman. He was an even better friend.

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Darren Fischer lit a candle

Monday, July 22, 2024

I've known Grant most of my life as i went to school with Kane.when I started roping at his arena in the late 80s/early 90s is when I really got to know him.i bought a horse from Greg and kept him at Grant's when we were roping during the week in the winter .he helped me a lot with advice,pointers and well delivered sarcasm.during a jackpot one evening, he had a wreck on Heather's horse and broke his shoulder.this put him in a bit of a fix as a one armed cowboy and horse trainer "ain't much good"(his words) .he had a job at the auction market penning cattle so I took the next stack of Mondays off and loaded my horse and punched in at the market using his time card so he could keep the lights on and beans in the cupboard. He never forgot that.i was glad to do it as he had given so much to a lot of people.when I was short a heeler,he'd"snag a bronc" out of one of his pens and meet me at a rodeo and it was a great feeling looking across at the other box and seeing him .I was needing a second horse shod for my wife to ride in the mountains so he offered me one that he already had shoes on.i took it and when I brought him back ,Grant told me he was for sale for $50,000 as it was a finished reining horse.i about died! I asked why would you send such an expensive horse with me to the mountains? Grant's answer...."he was the only sumbitch on the place with shoes on.besides,you didn't hurt him none and if you knew how much I was asking,you never would have took him."he was like that.give you the shirt off his back. I always stopped to see him and made sure to call frequently. He always looked forward to the Christmas presents,baking and goodies my wife,daughter and I brought out to him and I looked forward to taking them to him so I could have another visit with a good friend and a great man.and he was sure to say "tell that redhead (my wife) I said hello" when I left.as the years went on,his handshakes turned into hugs and I saw the genuine kindness in him.he will be sorely missed.the good ones are waiting ,sir.get the edge off them for the rest of us,will ya? Rest easy my friend.

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Miranda uploaded photo(s)

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Some of my earliest memories take place at the Kelts arena; watching the team roping jackpots from the coffee room, tracking my first steer out of the heading box, curling up under the office table with Dune, and getting to ride some of the fanciest broke horses I’ve ever swung a leg over. Grant was always happy to coach us through riding Roany or Coconut without a bridle and how to get our horses soft in the face and body. One of my favourite memories: Grant had a barrel horse in for training, and was pretty proud of how she was coming along. He decided we (all four Douglings and himself) would have a barrel jackpot, riding the barrel horse and our entries were $1 each. Ranging in age from around 12 to 6, we had no cash, so he paid our fees. The only stipulation was he had to make his run first. Grant gets set and starts his run (The Douglings spectating from the balcony). He’s going fast, making a nice run. As he rounds the second barrel and heads to third, the mare breaks in half and bucks like she’s trying to kick the lights out. We watch in awe as Grant gets her under control, and once all is calm the four of us in unison yell “Grant, you just won $5!” We forfeit and Grant is winner by default, he gets to keep his $5. As I grew older I began working with Grant when he needed an extra body, and we became closer as time went on. If I had any spare time or was feeling low, the first place I’d go was Grant’s. Good or bad, he was always there to listen. A shoulder to cry on, a sounding board, the first person I wanted to share exciting news with. Gruff on the outside, Grant had a soft and kind heart and was never afraid to tell me how proud he was of me and that he loved me. His door was always open, and coffee or a pilsner were always ready to be shared. Thanks for the laughs, memories, quotes and friendship Old Guy. You’ll sure be missed.

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Farren Fischer Posted Jul 22, 2024 at 7:17 PM

If those office walls could talk.i spent a lot of time in there with grant,greg ,gordie pernella,doug youngand a host of others including your dad.it was a real interesting crowd and never a dull moment.

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Bob and Brenda Blair posted a condolence

Saturday, July 20, 2024

We were very sorry to hear of Grants passing. He was our horse trainer but mostly our friend. Many happy memories of horse shows..or just visits.

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Colby Clifford uploaded photo(s)

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Grant was a one of a kind cowboy. Some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories occurred at Grant’s arena with my parents and sisters. Grant treated us like family, always taking time to teach and coach about horses. I can still hear the laughs that would come from the coffee room echoing through the stalls of that arena. Grant was a hard worker, as a teen I recall waking up before the sun and working cows until the sun went down. I told my dad that Grant’s behind must be made of leather to be able to do that every day because I was sore after just one day! Grant was clever. After winning ribbons in track and field one year, I challenged him to a foot race from one end of the barn to the other. Grant agreed and we got lined up to go. As soon as I heard “go”, I was shoved into a stall and he took off running. I probably did 3 laps inside that stall before running out, and in the end he beat me! He jokingly stated “if ya ain’t cheatin, ya ain’t tryin”, and that’s a Grant quote we still use regularly. I learned a lot about life and the cowboy way from Grant. Even when I moved to the city, he was always a phone call away. Grant is dearly missed by the Clifford crew. And although I still can’t bring myself to drink a warm Pilsner (that’s been sitting in a trailer in the heat of summer), I’ll happily raise one for him. My condolences to the family during this time of loss.

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The family of Grant Kelts uploaded a photo

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

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The family of Grant Kelts uploaded a photo

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

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The family of Grant Kelts uploaded a photo

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

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The family of Grant Kelts uploaded a photo

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Grant Kelts

1947 - 2024

Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium

Parkview Funeral Chapels & Crematorium

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Grant Kelts

1947 - 2024

Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium

Parkview Funeral Chapels & Crematorium​

Site Menu

Have A Question?​

Parkview Funeral Chapels & Crematorium

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