Grant Smith Fairbanks' Obituary
Grant Smith Fairbanks, our loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on February 23, 2026.
Grant was born March 10, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ortho Lane and Laura Violate Smith Fairbanks. He was the youngest of five children, welcomed by one older sister and three older brothers.
He graduated from South High School and went on to attend Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. His four years at BYU were among the happiest of his life. He served in Northern California as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He married the love of his life, Lucy Johnson, on April 5, 1962, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and quiet devotion to one another. Grant treasured every moment spent with his family and took great pride in each of them.
As an active and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grant held many ward and stake callings, including Bishop for several years. He served in the Jordan River Temple for five years and as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake City Temple for twelve years. He loved his community and gave generously of his time in service to others.
He worked for the State of Utah Department of Transportation for 32 years including serving as the Director of the Human Resources Department. Through his career at the state he was known for his steady presence and integrity. He also served on a number of professional committees, including the Highway Research Board and as Chairman of a National Committee on certifying engineering technicians. He concluded his professional career with a consulting group, continuing to share his experience and wisdom.
Grant was a gifted artist and could often be found painting in his spare time. He created beautiful portraits of his grandchildren, detailed cityscapes, and especially loved capturing the wild places of Utah. He loved the outdoors and spent time motorcycling in the deserts and mountains with his sons. He also loved to spend time four-wheeling, wandering and exploring with his brothers. He stayed active later in life and loved to walk, work in the yard and even skied until the age of 80.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Lucy, and his children Greg (Susan) Fairbanks, Cindy (Jeff) Rollins, and Drew Fairbanks. He is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sons, Rod and Trent; his parents; his sister; and his three brothers.
A viewing for family and close friends will be held prior to services from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. followed by funeral at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the Greenfield Chapel, 6634 South Greenfield Way, Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 3115 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT
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