Harold Richard Grinstead

Harold was born to Hazel and Harold Grinstead in Ordway, Colorado in the local hotel. He grew up in the southwest Kansas area, graduating from Coolidge High School before attending Lamar Junior College. He helped start the rodeo team and host the first college rodeo while at Lamar.    Harold moved to Elkhart, Kansas where he met his bride, Shirley Adams. They married on July 11, 1959, and were married 64 years. They had three children LaVonda (Randall) White, Bruce Grinstead, and Glenna Grinstead; three grandchildren Britton (Ashlee) Grinstead, Tylon Ybarra, and Karley Grinstead; and two great-grandchildren, Slade and Lainee Grinstead. He is survived by these family members and his siblings, Bill, Dorothy, Ike, Nancy, and Dianna.   

Harold was a cowboy’s cowboy, a real cowboy who was in the snow at 10 below caring for the cattle before anything else.  He worked on several ranches from southwest Kansas to the Oklahoma panhandle to the Flint Hills to northeast Kansas. He lived the simple life, enjoying his time on horseback, believing God could be seen in the sunrise, heard in the calf’s bawl, and felt in the breeze. Harold also spent time enjoying his hobby of team roping with family and friends.   Whether heading or heeling, he was often in the money, winning belt buckles and saddles.  

Harold grew older and had to give up his cowboy ways.  He spent time with his family and learned new hobbies before moving to St. Luke’s Living Center. The staff there cared for him over the last 4 years. His family deeply appreciates them.  

The memorial service will be Sunday March 10, 2024 at 2 pm at the John McKay American Legion Post 308 in Florence.   Jeans and boots are appropriate. Donations may be made to the Florence Public Library in Harold’s memory. Yazel-Megli Funeral Home is serving the family. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Harold at www.yazelmeglifh.com. 

“Oh the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say, and this is where the cowboy rides away.” - George Strait