Surrounded by family, Grant Young Farnsworth died Saturday, April 19, at his home in Olathe after several years of failing health.

He was a cowboy, rancher, constant companion, husband and friend, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved the country life and good “ole” country music. He was “The Boss” and will be greatly missed.

He was born Nov. 22, 1926, in Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to Ernest Lafayette and Edith Caroline Marie (Nielsen) Farnsworth. Grant was the 10th of 12 children. He attended the Colonia Juarez Academy. His family moved to Lebanon (Cactus), Ariz., when they left Mexico in 1936. At the age of 15, he went to work on a farm in Ignacio, Colo.
Grant met and married his sweetheart, Elda East, and their marriage was sealed for time and eternity in the Mesa Arizona Temple Dec. 29, 1943. They lived in New Mexico and Utah before settling in Crawford, Colo., where he acquired his ranch. He sold the ranch in 1972, and moved to Paonia, where he started Farnsworth Construction in 1977.

In 1988, he sold the business to his son Cecil and went back to his real love, ranching and farming. After the death of his wife Elda in 1998, he met and married his second sweetheart and helpmate, Ellen Payne Brown, Feb. 27, 1999. When they could no longer keep up with the Paonia ranch, they sold and bought a mini ranch in Olathe. He could never give up his cows.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; his children Caroline (John) Gilliland of Lazear, Colo., Kim (Bob) Arterburn of Clifton and Cecil (Pat) Farnsworth of Paonia; stepchildren Bob Adamson, Glenda Logue, Sherry Silva, Danny Adamson, Kevin Adamson, Tina Sleigh, Larry Adamson and Gary Adamson; 39 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and brother Elmo B. Farnsworth of St. George, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother; four sisters; six brothers; sons Carl Young and Philip Lee Farnsworth; and stepson Richard Adamson.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 24, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paonia with viewing at 9 a.m. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Rocky Mountain Kidney Foundation.

Arrangements are under the direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.