Grandpa Hacking

I attended the funeral of my grandpa Hacking this week. He lived to be 99 years, 3 months and 23 days old. In celebration of his life I would like to share a couple of my favorite memories of him.

- My grandpa was a farmer and always had a tractor. One of my favorite things to do when my family went out to visit was to have my grandpa lift us up in the tractor bucket and drive around. We would drive up into the fields to see the cows. Once we got there he would let us down so that we could help feed the cows. For this city kids it was fun to help my grandpa do some farmin' chores.

- One of my grandpa's favorite sayings was "Come again when you can't stay so long." He would always say that and then follow it with a big hug and sloppy kiss.

We are going to miss him, especially at his 100th birthday party (family reunion) that is planned for July, but we know he had a good life and is up in heaven having a good time and bringing smiles to people's faces.

Grant Leland Hacking passed away May 16, 2007 at the age of 99 years and 3.75 months. He almost reached his goal to live 100 years. He was born January 23, 1908 to Joseph Pearson and Carrie Claire Stringham Hacking as the sixth of eleven children, 4 sister and 6 brothers. He married Mildred Lynore Bailey on December 23, 1935 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple by his name sake Heber J Grant. He lived all of his life within a mile of his birthplace except for the time he attended Utah State Agriculture College and his 18 month mission with his wife. During his life time he went from the horse and buggy to the computer era, purchasing his first computer when he was 90. Grant was a farmer and rancher all of his life and truly enjoyed his occupation even into his nineties. He loved farm work and taught many young people the joy of hard work especially his own children and grandchildren. He served an LDS mission with his wife to the White Rocks Indian Mission and Washington DC Mission. Grant served in many church positions, but his favorite was “Grandpa” in the ward nursery which he did for almost 20 years. He was delighted in his later years to grow out his beard and hair so that he could visit the elementary schools, wards and family parties as Santa Claus. A six year old was heard to make the comment, “Now that’s the real Santa Claus.” He lived to see all of his children and many grandchildren graduate from college. One of his delights was showing his children the world. Grant and Mildred took their children and their spouses on wonderful trips to Mexico, Israel and Hawaii. Grant is survived by his children Eleanore (Lynton) Scott of Trinity Center, CA, (James Ely) of China, Brent and (Roberta) Hacking of Langley WA, Douglas and (Adrian) Hacking of Layton, UT, (William Beesley) of Draper, UT, and Barbara and (Berkley) Hall of Vernal. Grant and Mildred have 29 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. Grant was preceded in death by wife Mildred, two daughters, Sandra Ely and Marilyn Beesley, daughter-in-law, Cherry Hacking, two grandchildren, his parents and all of his siblings.