Obituary: Grant Keith Norton

Grant Norton's final journey was on the back of a Tauranga Towing truck, a company he poured his heart and soul into with his son Daniel in his final years. Photo / Karen Crozier

Grant Keith Norton (June 13, 1951 — March 17, 2018)

Grant Norton was taken to his wake in style — his coffin strapped to the back of a tow truck.

His son, Daniel, bought new straps and some astroturf for the 6km journey from Omokoroa Community Church to Grant's favourite hangout, the Black Sheep Bar and Grill.

His family thought it would be a fitting send-off and Daniel said you should have seen the man's face in the shop when he asked for the turf to be cut to "coffin size".

"We know dad would have thought it brilliant that his final journey was on Tauranga Towing's truck," his daughter, Jane, said.

That was because Grant was "unwaveringly dedicated" to the tow truck company he set up with Daniel in the last years of his life.

He poured his heart and soul into the company, Jane said, and that was indicative of the commitment and enthusiasm Grant lived by for 66 years.

He died peacefully this month surrounded by family.

Grant Norton's coffin was strapped to the back of a tow truck to take him to his wake. Photo / Karen Crozier

"Grant won't be remembered for big achievements," Jane said.

"His achievements were in the honest, calm and patient way that he lived his life – his ability to listen to people and be genuinely interested in their life and to give sage advice."

She said her dad was a very calm and patient person and easy to be around.

"You could go to Grant with any problem and he would never judge you. He had been around the block enough to know never to judge people. He accepted people as they were."

He was born in Auckland on June 13, 1951.

His father, Trevor, and mother, Marie, owned Marie's Milk Bar on Karangahape Rd in the city and later a dairy in Grey Lynn. Grant delivered papers and groceries for the dairy.

He had three siblings — Paul, Kay and John — and they all grew up in Auckland and Paeroa, where father Trevor worked as a local milkman.

The extended Norton family also had a farm just outside of Thames, which Grant used to work on in the summer holidays.

When he was 18, he talked his way into a marketing consultant job in Auckland, despite having no sales experience, and would go on to work for two clothing companies before later moving into real estate.

Grant Norton died this month aged 66. Photo / Supplied

Jane said Grant was an incredibly hard worker, a real people person, unfailingly honest, dedicated and enthusiastic.

This all made him an excellent salesperson and that was what he devoted most of his working career to. He also had a brief stint as a limousine driver.

Grant met his first wife Libby, a flight attendant for Air New Zealand, on a flight home from Wellington.

He was 19 and offered her a lift home. They would go on to have two children together, Angus and Jane.

Angus said his dad had the ability to connect with anyone and everyone — "the jocks and the nerds" — and that made him special.

"He could create deep, lasting relationships with people in all areas of his life. Whether it was one of the titans of the financial world, the crew of the local bar, the cleaners sweeping streets, or young up-and-comers at work. He made all of them feel loved, special and like they had a best friend in him."

With his second wife, Karen, Grant would have three more children — Daniel, Matthew and Laura.

Daniel said he did not just lose a dad this month, but also a business partner and his best mate.

Grant married his third wife, Christine, in 2004 and the couple moved to Omokoroa in 2011.

His last job before he retired was sales manager for Omokoroa Country Estate and in his final years, he helped establish Tauranga Towing with Daniel.

Grant loved horse racing and bowls, was an active member of the Omokoroa Community Church, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than having a quiet beer with mates.

After retirement, he could be seen at 2pm every day at the local pub.

"He made many friends there just by quietly sitting and enjoying a Lion Red. His friends there valued his company so much that they performed a haka for his funeral," Jane said.

Grant Norton's friends performed a haka for his funeral. Photo / Karen Crozier

Grant is survived by his wife Christine, his father Trevor, his children Matthew, Daniel, Angus, Laura and Jane, his step-daughter Jackie, and his grandchildren Ryder, Naomi, Felix and Dylan.

Grant Norton was farewelled at his favourite hangout, the Black Sheep Bar and Grill. Photo / Supplied