SATURDAY, May 15, 2017

Gary Sullivan

1952 – 2017

Mr. Gary Sullivan of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Marg Sullivan, passed away after a lengthy illness on Friday, March 3, 2017 at the age of 64 years. A Celebration of Gary’s Life and reception will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4th Street South, Lethbridge, AB. A private family inurnment will take place at Mountain View Cemetery following the service.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a private condolence.

GORDON CAMPBELL, PHD

August 21, 1921 – May 1, 2017

Born August 21, 1921, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, to Ruth and Duncan Campbell. The youngest of four boys (Neil, Lockman and Duncan), Gordon learned to play the piano early, achieving a performance diploma from the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Money was scarce for the Campbell family so Ruth bartered for Gordon’s piano lessons with home-canned goods, most often pickles.

Gordon had a taste for debate that was legendary and the more controversial the topic the greater his enthusiasm. Gordon’s life as an educator and administrator took root when he became Vice-Principal of the Iron Springs School and Principal of Monarch School in Alberta from 1939 – 1940.

Gordon was a World War II Navy Veteran, serving in the Atlantic Fleet from 1943-45. His active service left him with lasting difficult memories. After the war, Gordon became the First National Executive Secretary of the World University Service of Canada (“WUSC”) in Toronto. Gordon received an MA from the University of Toronto in 1951. He continued graduate studies at Harvard University where as a bell ringer, nimbly manipulating an intricate series of ropes, pulleys, and pedals he sent a string of chimes through the Cambridge, MA, air. His musical gift enabled him to play some of the great pipe organs of Europe, as a “drop-in”, to the amazement of many church and cathedral curators. Gordon had a catalogue of 10,000 songs in his head that he could play without written music, at will, in any key.

Meeting at a Toronto conference in 1957, Gordon fell for and smartly married Sylvia Anne Woeller, of Kitchener, Ontario. They settled in Regina with baby Douglas where Gordon was the Director of Adult Education for the Province of Saskatchewan. In 1962, Gordon was appointed Director of Extension, University of Waterloo. In 1964, he and Sylvia moved to Trail, BC, where he became the Founding President of Selkirk Community College in Castlegar (now Selkirk University). Darroch, Lachlan and Janet joined the family in 1965, 1966 and 1968. The family moved to Lethbridge where Gordon joined the newly established University as Founding Faculty and associate professor of Education. He obtained a PhD from the University of Calgary in 1971.

In Lethbridge, Gordon and Sylvia were active leaders in their new community. In 1968, Gordon began the Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs in Lethbridge. Its mandate was to explore issues of community concern and controversy, and to Gordon’s delight was varyingly characterized as conservative, communist and socialist, depending on the style of the last speaker. Always a Scotsman, Gordon felt it was important for those attending to obtain the equivalent of a university seminar with a sandwich, pastry, and beverage, at below cost.

Gordon taught his children a reverence for the natural world from countless adventures hiking, camping, swimming, beach combing, clamming and star gazing, especially on Hornby Island and in the Lethbridge coulees. These experiences endure as the happiest of family memories. Gordon and Sylvia were indulgent parents in only one way, the number and species of pets allowed in the household. Visitors might find dogs, cats, turtles, pigeons, chickens, piranhas, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters and goldfish all coexisting in our lively Lethbridge household.

In 2015, Gordon and Sylvia moved closer to family in Vancouver where he continued to play the piano giving delight to all. He tapped into his vast song catalogue up until his last days. On May 1, 2017, succumbing to health challenges associated with old age, Gordon died in his sleep after being surrounded by family, friends and song.

Often described as larger than life, Gordon filled myriad roles: husband, father, grandfather, friend, advisor, challenger, educator, communicator, facilitator, musician, mentor, world traveler, and peacemaker. An indelible figure, he leaves a great imprint on our souls. Gordon loved nothing better than a gathering for good discussion, over roast beef, with music and a wee dram of scotch.

Never a dull moment followed Gordon who leaves a gaping hole in the lives of his wife Sylvia; children Douglas, Darroch, Lachlan and Janet; son-in-law Richard and daughter-in-law Nina, and grandchildren Aria, Lucius, Ava and Julian, along with many nieces and nephews.

A concurrent memorial service for Gordon will be held May 20 at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church Vancouver, BC, at 11:00 am PST with a simulcast at McKillop United Church in Lethbridge, AB, at 12:00 noon CMT.

In lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, please donate to a social justice cause focusing on human rights and equality for all persons under the sun.

HOWES

With heavy hearts, we announce that our Dad, JOHN WALTER HOWES, has joined our Mom in Heaven on May 9th, 2017, 4 hours and 50 minutes before his much-anticipated 90th Birthday. On May 8th, we were so blessed to join him in celebrating his special day while he was fully conscious and in such high spirits. What a huge blessing we will always be so grateful for.

He will be forever remembered and loved by his son Ted (son Logan), daughters Debbie & Rob (Carrie, John and Jayde), Penny & Dale (Kathryn), Rose & Greg (Emily), (Garry’s children, Beau, Darcy, Desiree and Dionne) (Shannon’s children, Brandie and Amber) as well as many great grandchildren. Also left to mourn his passing are his brothers, Harvey (Joan) and Dale (Ann), Mom’s sisters-in law as well as many nieces and nephews.

Along with Terry, his loving wife of 50 years, Dad was predeceased by his parents, Nettie and George, infant daughter Darcey (1960), son Garry, daughter Shannon, granddaughter Crystal and his nephew, Lorne.

Dad was born in Chaplin, SK but was raised and went to school in Moose Jaw. He worked in many fields and was a “Jack of all Trades”. He met and married our Mom in Calgary and together they raised our family of six children, in various communities of Alberta. He was a quick learner and accomplished at many skills that helped him and our family throughout our lives as there was nothing he couldn’t fix. Dad worked hard, was resourceful and provided for his family first, making do with what we had, but we never did without.

Dad loved music, reading, camping and spending time outdoors. In later years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, supporting them in their various activities.

He will be remembered by family and friends for being kind-hearted, always looking out for others and having a great sense of humour.

To Dr. MacIntyre and all the beautiful staff on 4A at the Chinook Regional Hospital, we cannot thank you enough for all the loving and gentle support you provided for Dad as well as us, his family. You truly are special Angels who went over and beyond in your care. To Linda Bennett and all the wonderful staff at Fairmont Extendicare, we give our heartfelt gratitude for taking special care of Dad during his transition with dementia in his last years.

Penny, there are no words that could possibly convey my gratitude and love, as well as Dad’s, for all you have done for him these past 16 years, except to say the same words Dad said to God that special morning, “Thank you, thank you, thank you”. We would also like to express our immense appreciation to our loving husbands, Dale and Greg for being so supportive to us and helping so much this past week.

At Dad’s request, there will be no formal funeral service.

“God bless you Dad. Please give Mom a big kiss from us and thank you both for all you did for us kids. We love you so much.”

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com