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October 18, 1965 - April 3, 2021
John Andrew Groat aka Hoss, Bootsy, was 56 years old of Lower Post, B.C. passed away peacefully on April 3, 2021, at the Watson Lake Community Hospital in Watson Lake Y.T.
John was born in Whitehorse, Yukon on October 18, 1965, to the late Allen and Hazel Groat (née Frank).
John attended school in Lower Post, B.C. Watson Lake Y.T and Dawson Creek, B.C.
John started working at the age of 14 for Diamond J. Ranch with his uncles Earnest Frank (Rawhide), Perry Frank, Charlie Tibbett, and Cousin John Porter. This was where he learned how to wrangle, guide, hunt and take care of the horses. John truly loved working with and painting pictures of horses.
John spent time on the family trapline with his father Allen and brother Malcolm where he learned to trap and hunt, snowshoe and run their dogs. John spoke of going to the trapline to hunt, trap and run the boat on the Liard and Ketchika rivers. John spent some time working on a pipeline in Rainbow Lake, Alberta for Surerus Pipeline Inc.
John loved to sing and play guitar with all of his friends at the parties he has at his home, most had a favorite song by him. John loved the Rolling Stones, and most country and rock. John painted many paintings of scenery, animals, birds and mostly First Nations hunting on horseback out on the land.
John spent several years with Sandra Egnel and her daughter Shania. Sandra had moved back to her community to take care of her mother. John forever loved Sandra and Shania.
John is survived by Aunt Hilda and Uncle Joe, sisters Debbie and Marguerite, brother Malcolm, son Justin, nephews Melvin Jr, Ashton, Trevor, and nieces Amanda, Devon, Robin, Koreena. All of the many cousins he loved and enjoyed visiting and talking about the good times.
John had many friends and to mention a few Tim Dewhurst and family, Robert and Richard Dendys, Fred and Ken McMillan, Fred Lutz, Tim Moon, Gary McDonald, Jack Malkin.
John was a kind humble and generous man; his door was always open if you needed a meal or drink or a bed to sleep.
John preceded in death by Grandparents Thomas Frank and Daisy Porter, Malcolm and Emma Groat née Oppenheimer. Nieces Harmony Tibbett, Angela Stockman, nephews Andrew Groat, Thomas Arcand.
The family of John Andrew Groat wishes to thank the Watson Lake Community Hospital staff, EMR and the RCMP for all of the help and support that was provided.
The family will post notice of Interment of Ashes at Lucky Lake, Yukon at a later date.


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