Grant Royce Genest was born October 4, 1949 in the Rosetown Hospital and he died July 19, 2022 at the Rose Villa.

He was predeceased by his father Louis in 1954 and mother Hazel (née Trapp) in 1998. He is survived by brother Ron (Peggy), Joanne, Colette, Cheryl, Louis and brother Neil (Kathy), Jaime, Scott plus many Genest, Helgason and Trapp cousins.

Grant attended Harris -Tessier school and, except for time away working, lived his whole life in the Harris community. After school Grant worked for CNR doing section maintenance in winter and construction &repair in summer from northern Sask. Through Manitoba to northern Ontario. After leaving the railroad, Grant worked for several farmers in the area; notably Bill and Olga Wagner and Russ and Ieleen Gordon who always looked out for Grant’s interests. While working on the game fence along Hwy 7, Grant was seriously injured in a construction accident, breaking his pelvis and damaging his back. He lived in pain for the rest of his life.

Grant lived in the family home until 2008 then moved to one of the Harris Housing Authority duplexes. In early winter 2021, he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized until July 2021 when he moved into Rose Villa in Rosetown. Although confined to a wheelchair and having limited speech, he thrived there under the kind care of the nurses and staff. He was getting out and socializing with staff and other residents until early June when something changed his outlook; he became distant and refused most care so he went downhill rapidly to his demise.

Grant had a special talent for remembering exact times, dates and people’s names and families and he could spell anything.

Grant spent many happy hours at the Harris Hotel and his best friends were the staff, customers and entertainers. He sometimes served as the beach volleyball referee and it is said that you didn’t want to question his calls. Thanks to Sandy, Carey, Morgan and Jamie for the good times.

There will be a private interment at the Harris Cemetery and we are planning a social event at the Hotel sometime near his birthday this fall.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in his name can send to the Harris Cemetery Committee, Box 124, Harris, SK, S0L 1K0.