A Livestream of the service may be viewed by clicking here. The livestream will begin about 10 minutes before the service start time.
Surrounded by his family, Grant Blakely Cairns passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 86.
Grant is remembered with smiles & laughter by all that knew & spent time with him. Know for his generous heart and special knack for creating fun, Grant was a beloved husband, devoted father, proud grandfather, and friend to many.
A skilled third-generation homebuilder, Grant carried on a family legacy of craftsmanship and integrity. In retirement, he indulged his passion for collectibles & nostalgia with the creation of Cairns Automotive Sales Literature. Grant was a familiar presence and always warmly greeted by generations of enthusiasts attending vintage car shows across Ontario.
Grant was a musician, band leader and avid 78 RPM record collector of early jazz music from the 1920s & 1930s. He was recognized for his remarkable world-class record collection. Grant shared his mutual passion of listening and sharing knowledge about early jazz recordings with a close-knit group of life-long collector friends at six-decades of “Spin Sessions”.
Grant is survived by his loving wife, Judith Cairns (Anderson); his children, Andrew Cairns, Heather Cairns-Mills, and Elizabeth (Beth) Cairns-Cooper (Scott Cooper); and grandchildren, Victoria, Jessica, Evan, and Blakely. Grant is predeceased by his parents Andrew Cairns Jr. & Edith Cairns (Clark), his sister Beverly Jackson, his son Glenn Cairns and son in-law Kevin Mills.
He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever celebrated by all who knew him.
Visitation will take place at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie on Friday, August 8th, 2025 from 7-9 pm and again on Saturday, August 9th, 2025 from 1 pm until the time we celebrate Grant's life in the Chapel at 2 pm. Guests are invited to remain for a reception inside the lower lounge following the service (with extra egg salad sandwiches, Grant’s favorite). Memorial Donations may be made in Grant's name to Saint Elizabeth Foundation, 90 Allstate Parkway, Suite 800, Markham, Ontario L3R 6H3. The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Saint Elizabeth’s and Royal Victoria Hospital for their care and compassion.
Condolences and memories may be shared via www.steckleygooderham.com