GEORGE LALOR

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GEORGE LALOR 1920 - 2008 On July 25, 2008 at the Grace Hospital, Dad lost his battle with congestive heart failure. However, as was his way, he fought it to the end with optimism, courage and the utmost dignity. At his request, cremation has taken place. Dad is survived by his daughter Katherine Mary Neufeld (Patrick Martin), son Kevin (Margot Brown), brother Michael (Rose Marie) and four grandsons, of whom he was very proud, Myles, Riley, Carey and Kelley. His loving wife Helen; brothers Fintan and Terry; sister Mary and parents Myrtle and Patrick, predeceased him. Our father, grandfather, brother and friend was born March 17, 1920 in Welwyn, Saskatchewan. He grew up in Pine Falls, Manitoba and received his education at the Pine Falls School and St. Paul's College in Winnipeg, as did all three of his brothers. In the summer of 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a wireless air gunner in the Middle East/North African theatre of operations and was sent home to Canada as a casualty in 1943. In 1949, he joined the Forest Biology Department at the University of Manitoba where he worked for 15 years, primarily in Northern Manitoba and Northern Saskatchewan. In 1963, he left the Forest Biology Department to join the Health of Animals Branch of Canada and remained there until 1972, when he retired from the civil service to pursue his first love, a career in writing. Throughout his writing career which continued until his death, he wrote numerous short stories and had five books published, most notably Sagkeeng and The Foot of the River , both historical chronicles of the Winnipeg River Area. In addition to teaching creative writing, he won numerous awards including the Lady Eaton Award, the Manitoba Historical Society Gold Medal, the Kathleen Strange Memorial Award and the Margaret McWilliams Award for his contributions to the history of Manitoba. He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, the wartime Pilots and Observers Association and the Canadian Authors Association. Dad was blessed with many gifts but amongst his most noteworthy talents was his well- known ability to tell stories. He could keep people of all ages transfixed with his yarns and his recollections of youthful canoe trips in the Great Canadian Shield Country of Eastern Manitoba. He had so many friends that it would be impossible to recount them all, but special friends like the Duponts (Paulette and Jacque), the Cures (Shelley and Ray), the Singletons (Ross and Berle), and the Berards (Real and Eva) have to be acknowledged. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed by his brother, his children, his grandchildren and his many friends. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at Mary Mother of the Church, 85 Kirkbridge. We, the family would also like to thank the wonderful caregivers at the Deer Lodge Hospital, the Grace Hospital and the Victoria Hospital. Special thanks also to the attendants at the Fort Garry Rotary Place and to Doctor Sheldon Permack, who with his professionalism and attentiveness prolonged Dad's life for many years. GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 30, 2008