GORDON WRIGHT REEKIE

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GORDON WRIGHT REEKIE June 13, 1928 November 2, 2006 Peacefully, under the care of family and comforted by his beloved jazz music up to the end, Gordon succumbed to cancer on November 2, 2006 at home in Orleans. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Elsie Leota (Edwards), to mourn the only man she has ever loved but sustained by the memories of a happy and fulfilling life together. He is also survived by his three sons, Ronald Gordon, James George and Robert Brian, daughters-in-law, Jacqueline Lalonde and Ann Wallace and much loved and doted on grandchildren, Christopher, Rochelle, Ted, Matthieu, Caroline and Christian. Gordon is also survived by his sister Margaret Anne (John Sugden), and predeceased by his father George Abram Reekie, mother Isabella Mary (Melvin) and his brother George Melvin. Gordon was born in small town Manitoba and grew up during the hard years of the dirty thirties . He was raised according to the standards of that time and place; family was everything, people in the community helped each other through difficult times and a person's reputation was their most important asset. These life lessons were passed on to his sons and grandchildren through personal example. Family, friends and colleagues often recalled anecdotes attesting to his character, honesty and desire to do right by people. These characteristics were ever present through a successful business career, from prairie small town hardware store manager to senior retail executive in Toronto, where he retired in 1987. He enjoyed retirement immensely, travelling, playing saxophone in two bands, curling, golfing and developing new friendships. He seemed busier in retirement than when he was working, but was always available to visit and offer support and his handyman skills to his family. Cancer robbed him of an active life and his independence, but allowed his family to show their love and demonstrate that his lessons had been learned. Even at the end his thoughts were for others, concern that his illness was taxing his family and worry about how his wife would carry on without him. Dad, we're going to really miss you. Don't worry, we will look after each other.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 04, 2006