Obituary
Grant Randy Putnam, son, brother, father, friend, and loving partner passed away on April 23, 2026, at the age of 65 in Oregon City, Oregon. Grant loved people, the outdoors and life itself.
Born on August 25, 1960, in Portland, Oregon, Grant was the first son of Glenn and Georgeann Putnam. Grant grew up working in his father’s tire store and enjoyed hunting, fishing and outdoor activities with his family. Grant played baseball, basketball and football throughout his schooling and was also a competitive water skier. He graduated from David Douglas High School in 1978 and went to the University of Oregon for one semester before returning home to help his father with the tire store, Bud's Tire, in Gresham, Oregon. His career in the tire industry expanded and included positions with Firestone and Yokohama, spanning several years in his early 20’s. Grant married his first wife Debbie, and they had their son Grant Robert in 1985.
Grant moved from the corporate tire business to Checkpoint Systems, where he spent several years leading sales nationally for the company. His knowledge, personality and tenacity resulted in success as in all of his career choices. Meanwhile, Grant was also introduced to the world of horses where he quite simply found his love for the animals and ultimately the rodeo. The great outdoors had always called his name and his career as a sought after fishing guide, team roper and rancher rounded out the 90’s and early 2000’s. Grant moved between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon several times, always putting miles on the truck and trailer, whether it was hauling horses to a rodeo or a fishing boat to the Deschutes, or mouth of the Columbia at the renowned Bouy 10 salmon fishery. Grant also added benefit auctioneering to his list of accomplishments helping non-profits and schools fundraise for their important causes – a testament to his generous spirit.
From 2014 to 2025 Grant served as the President of the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association and spent countless hours advocating for the community’s fishery resources. He testified on behalf of salmon in Washington, DC, the Oregon legislature and countless boards and commissions while fundraising for fishery related causes he deeply believed in.
Upon sale of his regenerative ranch in Madras, OR in 2019 Grant purchased Gutter Pro NW to create an opportunity to work alongside his son and did so until February 2026. He was closer to his mother Georgeann in the final years of her life and found happiness and love during his time back west of Mt. Hood.
Grant wore many hats up until the very end. Fishing, branding cattle, auctions, friends and family filled his soul. He was surrounded by loving care during treatment which he met with strength and bravery. Grant’s superpower? Finding joy in every moment. He reminded those of us lucky enough to be with him that there is gratitude to be found every day.
Grant Putnam’s life was marked by dedication to family, community, and the natural world he loved so dearly. He will be remembered fondly for his vibrant spirit, the entertainment value of his incredible stories and touching so many lives in the most positive of ways. Grant’s life will be honored at a Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, OR from 2-5pm.