James MOFFATT

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MOFFATT: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James ‘Grant’ Moffatt, born May 12, 1949, on Monday, August 31, 2020. He passed away on the family farm, a place he lived and loved. Grant is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Connie (Hay); his son, Todd (Andrea) and daughter, Pam (Chris Theoret); and granddaughter Allie. Also survived by his siblings Neil (Joan), Lois (Brian Fowler), Mark (Cindy Beyak) and Norma (Al Purdy); sisters-in-law Dianne King (Mike), Darlene Johnson (Frank Fries) and brother-in-law Jim Hay (Jan), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by an infant sister, Susan, and his parents, Jimmie and Gladys Moffatt. Grant lived almost his entire life on the farm in Carroll. He attended Carroll School until Grade 8 and went to Souris Collegiate for his high school education. He went on to the University of Manitoba and received a Diploma in Agriculture. Following graduation, Grant worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway for a few years, and then farmed. In 1981, he started selling trucks for Wilton Ford Truck Centre and travelled many miles throughout both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. At that time, the Hargreaves Family rented his grain land, which the third generation continue to do so today. Grant always kept cattle and was involved in various livestock organizations, as Director of Manitoba Maine-Anjou Association and President of the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association. He was actively involved with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, Western Canadian Agribition, and the Brandon Bull sale. He also loved to be called upon to judge cattle at 4-H shows. After his second hip replacement, he sold his herd as he could no longer run faster than a mad mama cow. In 1991, Grant started selling vehicles for Murray’s in Brandon. Last year, after 28 wonderful years, he retired. As a testament to how his customers regarded him, there were hundreds of people in attendance at his retirement party. Murray’s presented him with a beautiful bench embossed with one of Grant’s favourite sayings, I am just ‘Living the Dream’. Grant was a great community man, always willing to get involved and help in any way. He was the backbone of the Southwest Cougars U18 AAA hockey team. When the team first moved to Souris, he served on the board, becoming President in 1996. Grant performed far more than executive duties for the team, such as running the clock for home games, moving nets between periods, washing the jerseys, doing write-ups for the weekly papers, getting scores to the sports stations, and fundraising for the team. However, the part he loved the best was driving the coaches and staff to the hockey games. He really enjoyed getting to know the coaches, the players and their parents. He was fondly known as Moff. At last years Cougar wind-up, Grant’s received one of his favourite mementos. He received a key chain from a Cougar family that said “Moff, the man, the myth, the legend”, which he carried every day on his key ring. Prior to his involvement with the Cougars, Grant enjoyed coaching “the boys of ’72” with Souris Minor Hockey, as well serving five years on the executive and another six years as President. Grant was also involved with the Souris Elks Senior Hockey Club, including a number of years as President of the SWHL and as a Director with Hockey Manitoba. Between minor hockey, senior hockey and AAA U18, it's very likely that Grant had visited every rink in Manitoba. Grant was the recipient of several awards throughout the years, such as Hockey Manitoba Volunteer of the Year Award in 2002, the Larry Perrin Memorial Volunteer Award in 2012, as well as, being inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 as part of the 1967 Souris Juvenile Cardinal Baseball team. In addition, to his many hours of athletic volunteering, Grant also served as president of the Carroll Cemetery. He spent many hours working at the cemetery on various projects, such as cultivating trees, spearheading the purchase of a marble columbarium, as well as being the ‘go to’ man when there was a burial. Grant loved his time behind the wheel, whether it was a quick trip with Connie to Brandon for a movie or ice cream, or longer drives, such as touring the country-side, delivering vehicles, or numerous trips to Alberta to see family. One of Grant’s favourite road trips was when Grant and Connie spent a month in 2012 travelling to Florida, where they were joined by Todd and Pam, and their families. One of the highlights of the trip for Grant was experiencing Disney World with his granddaughter, Allie, as they both had a blast riding roller-coasters and being kids! Grant battled with arthritis and polycystic kidney disease. In July 2019, Grant started dialysis at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. Grant was very well taken care of by the staff in the dialysis unit, and he thought the world of them. Near the end, any physical movement was becoming more difficult for Grant. We take solace in the fact that he died at home, he died quickly, and is now pain free. Grant was interned in the Carroll Cemetery Columbarium on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Kowalchuks Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to BRHC Foundation-Dialysis Unit, 150 McTavish Avenue E., Brandon, R7A 2B3 or Souris & Glenwood Foundation, Box 518, Souris, R0K 2C0. Rest in peace Grant. You were loved and will be missed by all who knew you.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 05, 2020