William Grant Stalker

William Grant Stalker passed away in his Taos home on December 18, 2009. Grant was 74 years old. An only child, adopted during the Depression era, Grant had a commanding and confident presence in this world, yet he was compassionate and grounded. While certainly a fighter and quick to share his opinions about the hottest political topics, he was patient and tolerant of the views of others. Grant was an interesting and creative man with a great wit and he enjoyed sharing some interesting nugget of recently discovered information or an experience from his past. And, the story was typically followed by his grand laugh. He was a gifted painter whose studio was mostly the outdoors. Grant loved travel, adventures and staying active. He achieved his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 64 and he could always be found on the ice playing hockey. A native of Pittsburgh, Grant loved the Steelers and Penguins. He left Pittsburgh to become a ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park. But, it was in the last 10 years of Grants life that he found his place in this world in Taos, New Mexico. He was drawn to the Native American views and values and worked for several years on the Taos Pueblo. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Grant is survived by his love and companion (and high school sweetheart), Sue Garratt, his five children, Kathy Stalker Bailey (Ken) of Rocky River Ohio, Bridget Stalker of Pittsburgh, Suzette Stalker Lang (Marshall) of Houston, Texas, Sean Stalker (Ann) of Pittsburgh and Grant Stalker (Lore) of Pittsburgh; Sues children Allen Wollard of Denver, Andrew Wollard (Tawni) of Denver, Wendy Penn Wollard (Errol Vanderhorst) of London, England. Grant is also survived by nine grandchildren.