August 9, 1955 – March 29, 2020
On Sunday March 29, 2020 Grant took his first breath of Heaven.
Born August 9, 1955 in Ottawa, Ontario to Richard (Dick) Hopley and Laura Hopley (nee Lines), Grant had the adventure of growing up all over northern Canada. In 1958 his parents gave him a younger brother, E. Scott, to teach the art of being a boy in the north. The family later moved to Saskatoon, Elbow and finally settled in Swift Current. Grant always admired his younger brother’s accomplishments but was truly happiest for Scott when he married his wonderful wife Susan, and they became parents to Kate and David.
While working with Saskatchewan Indian Arts Council, in PANP, late summer of 1981, he met a gal that made him laugh. On Thanksgiving weekend that same year, he proposed to his life-long partner-in-crime Dee Giberson (scaring each sets of parents!!!). The couple were married on August 16, 1982. Seven years later, God sent them an amazing daughter that they named Jessica Dow-Ann after both of her grandmothers. Grant had always dreamt of walking with a little girl along a beach, and now he had one all his own. He stood so much taller than he was, as he and Dee walked her down the aisle to Kevin Maher on their wedding day on October 27, 2018.
Sports were very important in Grant’s life. He played many and coached Little League in Swift Current and was a Hockey referee, once requiring a police escort out of a small unnamed town in southern Saskatchewan. As an adult he supported Oilers, Jays and Roughriders, but had such fun following curling, to the point of willingly wearing his beloved “Chicken Hat” and jersey, handing out sealed, candy eggs to children and any adult that asked about the hat. Getting to know the players, their families and other fans, putting smiles on their faces, made him smile. He allowed his wife, Dee, to shine in her silliness at the numerous events they attended together. He was pleased when “his girls” won the Scotties in Moose Jaw this past February.
Grant found joy in others happiness, teasing his nephews and nieces and teaching a few of them some little naughty things. He believed in fair play, even outside of sports, and would not stand for unfair treatment of anyone. Although he attended post secondary school three times in his life, he was most happy with himself when he convocated in May 2007 (at age 51) with a bachelor’s degree in social work, something he had wanted since being a teenager.
A Catholic funeral mass will be celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan when public gatherings are allowed. While Grant loved outdoor flowers, specifically lilies, indoor ones caused him to sneeze. For this reason, the family are gratefully declining flowers. If you wish to make a donation in Grant’s name, please consider Sandra Schmirler Foundation 18 Burndale Road, Ottawa, ON K1B 3Y3; or Saskatchewan Valley Hospital Foundation Inc., Box 93, Rosthern, SK S0K 3R0. Please visit www.funksfuneralhome.ca, under obituaries on Grant’s obituary page to enter condolences and words of sympathy for the family. Arrangements are in care of Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK (306-232-5245).
Print this:
Print & PDF
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of R Grant Hopley 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Rosthern, Province: Saskatchewan