Stewart "Carson" Grant

His brother, Jack Harvey Grant, was born a couple of years later. The boys were raised in a very loving Christian home, and were extremely close with all their aunts, uncles, and cousins in the area. The family lived in the South Pasadena vicinity, including the Eagle Rock, Glendale, and Highland Park areas, where Carson resided a total of 44 years. He attended Delavan Drive Grammar School, Washington Irving Junior High School, and graduated in 1949 from Eagle Rock High School.

Carson considered attending Pasadena Art Institute, as he was a very talented artist in drawing and ceramics, but instead took a course at the University of Southern California and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, entering the colorful world of textiles. Samuel was a well-known buyer for major department stores such as Sears and Roebuck, Broadway, May Company, and Bullocks, and he helped guide Carson into sales.

A natural-born salesman with his genuine likability and charisma that people were drawn to, Carson became the #1 National Sales Representative for Belding Corticelli Silks, selling threads for a total of 25 years to these department stores. His grandchildren were quite impressed that he still recalled the code numbers for each individual thread color, in silk or cotton, with no mistakes. There were hundreds, and 50 years had elapsed.

In 1952, Carson’s life was put on hold, as the United States Army drafted him for the Korean War. Most of his duty served at Beale Air Force Base in California with the Army Air Force engineering, laying runways and landing strips. He was discharged two years later; a small window in his life which God used in big ways to help create the life he had in his last years. He was well cared for by our Veterans Affairs system, staff and medical providers, for which we are grateful.

Carson returned to his family, career, and all the loves left behind while serving in the military. He had a great love for the railroad, as this was his preferred mode of transportation. He didn’t fly due to ear and hearing damage, plus he swore the railroad ran on a more consistent schedule.

Carson shared fond memories of visiting family in Chicago with his parents and brother, including a time he went on the train by himself. His father had told him to always tip the waiter 10%, so he finished his meal and very proudly left his “10 cents” on the table. He was so embarrassed after, learning the difference between 10 percent and 10 cents.

Carson also had an incredible passion for cars. His friends even referred to him as “Carnut”. At one point, he and some buddies rented a warehouse to shelter their collectibles, and work on refurbishing. He alone, at one time, owned 16 antique or collectible vehicles, and this didn’t include the Corvettes and Porches he drove through the years.

The grandkids report he told them he had owned over 80 cars in his lifetime. He loved to take his younger cousins for rides in the cars as he acquired them, kept them all in immaculate condition, and enjoyed driving anywhere.

A personal favorite was a 1931 Model A Ford that was called the “Kitty Car”, as the tire cover displayed the logo for Belding Corticelli: a kitten holding a spool of thread. This man could tell you anything you ever wanted to know about any car ever made.

Throughout the years, the Grants had several cabins in The San Bernardino Mountains, a favorite spot for a quick weekend getaway or vacation. Relocating to Lake Arrowhead in 1975 was the next progression, to a beautiful home that he built over time on his free weekends.

Here, he enjoyed boating on the lake with his family and cousins, the LaBarres. His boat was named “Rumpelstiltskin”, fondly nicknamed “the Rump”. The Lake Arrowhead Village, Jensen’s Bakery, Belgian Waffle House, Tony’s, The Cliffhanger, all real estate offices plus the local hardware store were among his favorite hangout spots. Really, anywhere he could stop in he would be sure to find any one of his friends for a chat.

It was there, in the mountains, that he found his affinity for building luxury homes and developing property. He designed and built 50-plus beautifully crafted homes in the area.

The largest project Carson took on was a picturesque, 55-acre, historical property known as the Squirrel Inn. Located off Highway 18 on the rim overlooking the inland empire in southern California, it consisted of 13 charmingly rustic buildings built in the late 1800’s. He and his wife, Margaret, had many developmental dreams for this special place. The heart of the Squirrel Inn undoubtedly became a Christian retreat center, which they developed and worked for five years until the challenges outweighed the benefits of this place they loved, and it was sold.

Carson moved on to security systems. First selling for Rim Alarms, and then starting Preferred Security Systems with a friend/partner. He had an extremely high-end clientele that he handled with his typical sense of ease, friendliness, and unwavering dedication to their eccentric requests.

After 30 years living in his beloved mountains where he had befriended most, and left his mark on the community, he moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he retired and set out to enjoy a new, relaxing life. He spent many years driving around in the last of his treasured sports cars, his bright blue Chrysler Crossfire. In his usual way, he continued making friends with everyone he met.

Carson enjoyed dining out, gardening (especially his colorful roses), and spending time with his grandchildren, attending their school or sporting events, or just sharing an ice cream or root beer float. He always enjoyed drawing special characters for the kids, telling stories, watching Disney movies, whistling special tunes, and just being silly with them.

His love of sweets, however, created memories of its own. Let’s just say his motto was: “If one is good, a dozen is better.” Lisa kept him in supply of See’s Scotch kisses, and Kathleen kept him stocked with Vi’s frozen cookie dough and whipped cream to share with the kids.

His grandkids have plenty of stories of Papa eating their holiday candy, all the ice cream sandwiches, and any dough that was being made. Even after, as a teen, his aunt caught him with his shirt and belly stuck in the moving beater, stealing cookie dough. It never stopped him, he loved it all.

Carson married the love of his life, Margaret (Atwood) Grant, someone he had known and secretly loved for years. They were married a total of 48 years and built a wonderful life together. They had four children, 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. He loved his family more than anything in the world, and he was so very proud of each one for their own unique talents and personalities.

He was a true family man. If you were family, he loved you. If he knew you, you were his friend. He would do anything for either. This is a man who knew Christ as his savior, and it was evident in the way he lived, and the way he loved.

Carson had so intricately woven his colorful threads through the hearts of his loved ones and friends, all the while building a life of cherished memories with laughter, integrity and heart, being sure to secure a future with a legacy of his character, faith, compassion, and unwavering love. We will carry him with us in our hearts always, wherever we shall go.

Should you wish to reach out to Carson's family, you may at: Kathleen Hornburg, PO Box 504,

Woody Creek, CO 81656