Grant Allen Crane, age 89, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2017 in Delta, Utah. He was born January 17, 1928 in Levan, Utah, the third child of Harry Abner and Maggie Amelia Mortensen Crane. As a boy he had farm chores, but enjoyed spending time with his best friend Cecil Sampson; swimming, riding horses and ice skating. At age 13, he remembered ice skating on Sunday, December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He attended Delta High School where he participated in tennis and track.
He met his future wife, Peggy Ann Carter, on a blind date. They were married September 8, 1950 in the Manti LDS Temple. Not long after, he was drafted into the military. They moved to Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington where he served in the army engineers and trained to operate landing craft. They moved back to Delta upon his discharge in 1953.
He worked for Ed Lyman, feeding and taking care of cattle, and operating farm equipment until 1967. He worked for Contel of the West from 1967 to 1985 first as an outside plant installer repairman and later as a central office technician. After his retirement from the phone company he worked with Peggy at IPP until 1995.
Grant had a love for all animals especially horses. He had a kind and patient personality and a quick wit. All of the grandchildren enjoyed horse and tractor rides, and being pushed in the tire swings. He loved to play tennis with family and golf with family and friends. In his later years, he enjoyed sitting on his front porch waving to friends, neighbors and strangers as they drove by.
Grant is survived by his daughter: Julie (Dan) Wood, Santa Clara, Utah; son-in-law: Tom (LuAnne) Bladen Hyde Park, Utah; grandchildren: Wyatt, Garrett and Brandt Wood, Shanna Lee, Michael and Jay Bladen, Stacy Bleazard, Kari Haslem, and Gina Ricks; step-grandchildren: Jon and Jesse Bennion, Tyler and Matthew Bladen; 32 great grandchildren; sister: Ella Porter, Payson, Utah and sister-in-law: Ramona Crane, Logandale, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his wife: Peggy (only last month on August 22); daughter: Wendy Bladen; brother: Claude Crane; half-sister: Leah Ayres; and half-brother: Frank Crane.
Special thanks to all of the kind neighbors, friends and relatives who have been so generous in sharing their time and gifts of food with dad during the last month since mom’s passing. Especially sister-in-law: Betty Carter for her constant kindness and care.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 7, at 11 am, at the Delta 1st Ward Chapel, 222 West 200 North. Viewings will be held on Friday, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the Nickle Mortuary; and Saturday 9:30-10:40 am, prior to the service. Burial will be in the Delta City Cemetery.
