LYALL WILLIAM STONE

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LYALL WILLIAM STONE After a valiant struggle with leukemia, Lyall Stone of MacGregor, MB, peacefully passed away on January 27, 2006 at the age of 74. Lyall was a devoted husband of 47 years to Roberta and father to Tim (Gloria Nichols) and Heather Stone (Ken Klippenstein); grandfather to Tyler, Nicholas, Mark and Jane, and Canadian dad to Tatiana Allers of Brazil; brother Garth (Mae) Stone and Monica (Jim) White; brother-in-law to Bev (Marg) Allan, Nancy Allan (Neil Carleton) and Robin (Maria) Allan; nephew to Gladys Stone and Mildred Hay; and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Lyall was born on the family farm in Beaver, MB, January 7, 1932, the eldest son of Alexander and Ethel Stone. He was a mischievous, loveable, happy child, whose curiosity got him into everything. He climbed, explored and dismantled relentlessly without breaking anything. Lyall had a tremendous love of pets and as a young man delighted in early morning duck-hunting, fishing and playing hockey. He went to the one room school at Beaver via horseback and later boarded in MacGregor to attend high school. At the age of 18, he won a Certificate of Merit for Workmanship from Mechanics Illustrated Magazine for building a 3 x3 steam engine. Lyall went on to vocational school in Edmonton where he attained a Diesel Automotive Certificate. He worked for White Truck Motor in Winnipeg and on the construction of the Trans Canada Highway in the East Braintree as a heavy diesel mechanic. Lyall worked in MacGregor for Lye Motors and Robert Harvey. With the onset of the Virden oil boom, he worked there as a carpenter, foreman and welder. Welding then took him to Cranberry Portage to work on the construction of the mid-Canada line. With the decline of his father's health, Lyall returned home to care for the family farm. He married Roberta Allan on April 9, 1958 and they farmed and raised their family at Beaver. In the spring of 1992, they moved into MacGregor. By then, Lyall was putting his much-appreciated welding and repairing ingenuity to good use with Klippenstein Farms where he continued to help until this past fall. Lyall was willing to stop whatever he was doing to lend a hand to someone in need. He was very active in public life, serving as member and often chair of various boards, including the Beaver United Church, MacGregor Hospital, Recreation Committee, Normac Community Centre, Lions Club, Senior Support, Grafton House, Manitoba Pool Elevators and The Manitoba Farm Machinery Board. He coached Minor Hockey, organized local art classes, and taught pottery. Lyall was a great complement to Roberta in her myriad musical/teaching endeavors. He loved the challenge of working with his hands. Whether creating something new or repairing something old there was always a pencil in his pocket ready to illustrate a solution to the latest problem at hand. He constructed sets for drama, made costumes for his children, toys for grandchildren (his own and many others), built furniture, carved, painted and potted. He was an excellent dancer and a lover of all kinds of music. He greatly enjoyed the interactions of family and friends on social occasions. He taught himself to play a violin that his great-grandfather (a violinmaker) had made in England. An avid reader and devoted CBC-listener he also enjoyed sailing, cottage building at Delta, bird watching and playing with his grandchildren. He was the instigator of many a good practical joke. He was never at a loss for a humorous comeback and always reveled in the hearing of telling of a good story. Lyall was a principled, generous, loving man who will live in our hearts forever. We would like to express our sincerest heartfelt thanks to all the staff on GD6 at the Health Sciences Center and the Surgery Ward in Portage District Hospital for going those extra steps and taking such excellent care of him. Funeral service will be held at the MacGregor United Church on Wednesday, February 1, at 2:30 pm, with a reception to follow immediately thereafter at the MacGregor Memorial Hall. In lieu of flowers, if friends so wish, donations may be made to MacGregor Heritage Park (Communities in Bloom), Box 342, MacGregor MB R0H 0R0 or to the MacGregor United Church Building Fund, 12 Hampton Street, MacGregor, MB R0H 0R0 or to a charity of choice. A tree will be planted and cared for in memory of Lyall by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel who are in care of arrangements. 857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 31, 2006