LLOYD SHELVEY

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LLOYD SHELVEY Lloyd D. (Tiny) Shelvey passed from this life to begin his eternal journey quickly, quietly and peacefully at his home in Grandview, MB on August 30, 2010. He was predeceased by an infant brother, his parents Bert and Kay Shelvey, his sister Darlene and his brothers-in-law Garth Powell and Calvin Fairbairn. Surviving to cherish his memory are his life partner of 37 years, the Reverend Steve Wilson, his sister Diane, five nieces Robyn and Rick McGowan, Marni and Travis Loewen, Stacey Powell, Jodi and Kyle Scott, Nicole and Mark Cochrane, as well as his special grandniece Brielle McGowan and grandnephew Braedyn McGowan; by his cat Velvet and dog Digger, his world wide family of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, a large extended family and a host of friends and neighbours. Lloyd David (Tiny) Shelvey was born on April 11, 1947 at Brandon, MB, a child of Bert and Kay Shelvey. He grew up on the family farm in the RM of Elton, received his early education at Mount Vernon School and graduated from Elton Collegiate in 1964. Following his formal education, Lloyd worked as an orderly in the Brandon General Hospital and farmed with his father. He then worked for the Health of Animals Branch at the Brandon Stock yards, and later became administrator of CAMROC (Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded Occupational Centre), a forerunner of programs like Grandview Residential Services. He met his life partner Steve at a walk-a-thon for CAMROC when Steve volunteered to help with the adding machine rather than wait forever for Lloyd's big fingers to add up the total. They began living together in the summer of 1973. He left CAMROC in 1974, briefly drove a gravel truck for Burton Construction and then realized his dream to become a private business owner when he and Steve purchased Evans Confectionery in Rapid City. They sold that business in 1976 and moved their shingle across the street to the former Mac's Solo store which they operated as L S Grocery until 1987. Lloyd continued to work as meat cutter for the new owner, and also worked as a hail adjuster. In 1992 he was elected as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, IOOF, a position he held until his death. Lloyd was always active in the life of the community. For many years he was the track announcer at both the Chater Stock Car Track and Rapid City Raceways. He was also the voice of Rapid City Senior Hockey. He and his good friend Cecil Jackson always presented a miniature Stetson hat to any hockey player scoring a hat trick. Lloyd served on town council including approximately eight years as Mayor during which time Rapid City did major upgrades to its water system. He served on the Minnedosa District Hospital Board from 1976 to 1995, mostly as Chairman, and oversaw the construction of a new hospital there. Lloyd served as Chairman of Manitoba Health Organization (MHO) in 1988 to 1989 and travelled to numerous places to speak of emerging health care issues. Lloyd was active in curling, golfing, umpiring and announcing for many years. He was one of the first to use a push broom and along with it and his specially shaped pipe was a familiar figure around the Brandon Bonspiel and the Rapid City Curling Club for many years. He, Steve, and Cecil used to go to a different golf course every Monday during the summer and travelled most of Western Manitoba to do so. Lloyd joined Rapid City Odd Fellows Lodge #18 in 1975 and within the next year Lloyd became a member of Deborah Rebekah Lodge #9, Lebanon Encampment #7 and Manitoba Canton #2. He was instrumental in the formation of Valleyview Junior Lodge #2 and was very involved in providing leadership. Lloyd moved quickly through the offices of his own lodge and encampment, and became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba in 1987. In 1983 he was appointed to the Sovereign Grand Lodge Youth Committee and served a number of years as chairman of that committee. He was elected warden of the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1990, Deputy Sovereign Grand Master in 1991 and was installed as Sovereign Grand Master in Atlanta, Georgia in 1992. He presided over the sessions in Chicago in 1993 and thereafter served as Parliamentarian until 2009. He gave up the job for 2010 because he wanted to sit in the back row at least once. After moving to Winnipeg in 1993, he transferred his membership to Stonewall Lodge #49 and remained an active member there until moving to Grandview in 2007. He was a big part of the dream, design and construction of Assiniboine Links Phase I and Assiniboine Links Phase II and served as administrator for both. Lloyd was immensely proud to be an Odd Fellow. It's principles and purposes were the guiding force of his life. He served his many offices with humility, commitment, and a genuine love of what he was doing. The respect and esteem of his brothers and sisters is an indication of both his service and wisdom. Lloyd moved to Winnipeg in 1993. He and Steve purchased a condo in Abercorn Grove in 1997, where they had many friends, and their home was a social centre for the community. Lloyd reluctantly followed Steve to Grandview in 2007 when declining health dictated that he should not live alone. He gradually found his place in this community and greatly enjoyed his morning coffee crowd at the bakeshop and his many lunches at the Grandview Motor Inn with Cam, Marie, and Tom. Lloyd loved nothing more that a family gathering and many great times were held in the Shelvey and Fairbairn houses over big dinners, lots of cards, kids, and cats. Lloyd lost the end of his index finger while helping to put the dock in the lake at Rapid City, but always told his niece and now his grands that is what happens if you pick your nose - the end of your finger will fall off, just like his did. A bit gruesome perhaps but none of them grew up to be nose pickers. He loved to play board games and always wanted to explain the rules, often when the rest of us would be saying, just play the game. He hosted a games night for Will and his friends, while Gord, Sharla and Steve sat out on the deck as the cabin at Clear Lake. Imagine the joy when the kids discovered they could have all the chips and drinks they wanted. He loved to spoil the kids and early on decided the best gift would just be a big bag of money. The kids could reach in and take as much as their little hands could hold. There was something about a kid dripping with ice cream that delighted Lloyd and one of our last memories is of Brielle, Braedyn and Lloyd covered in ice cream at the lake, the three of them way to sticky for anyone else to even want to touch. Of course over the years that pleasure was a regular part of life for Robyn and Marni and for Stacey, Jodi and Nicole. Lloyd greatly enjoyed being with young people, and was very active in helping the boys of Valleyview Junior Lodge. He was so proud of their accomplishments as they won international drill after international drill competition, a total of six. His little buddy Bryce at Abercorn Grove used to wander in and out and would ride Lloyd's childhood tricycle around upstairs. Lloyd was a big man with an even bigger heart. He was a true noble gentleman and a giant among his peers in all senses of the words. His generosity of spirit, his welcoming nature and his grasp of what was happening in the world around him were a source of delight to many. Even with his rapidly declining health, he wanted to make it to Sovereign Grand Lodge in Kansas for one last time to sit in that coveted back row and enjoy the company of his many lodge friends. He was so pleased to be there, took part in all he could, and then upon returning home, and just getting into the house and saying hi to his beloved Velvet, he quickly, quietly and peacefully slipped the bonds of this earth to begin his journey to eternity. The walls of his study and bedroom are covered in pictures and plaques bearing testimony to the respect he earned from others. He was a good man, a true brother, a loving uncle, a cherished companion, and he will be missed. A service of worship celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 20, 2010 in Grandview United Church. An inurnment service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 21 at the Rapid City Cemetery. His brekkie buddy the Reverend Karen Kuzek will officiate and arrangements are entrusted to his friends at Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Services of Dauphin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lloyd's memory to: Dialysis Unit, Dauphin General Hospital, 625 3rd Street SW, Dauphin, MB, R7N 1R7; Odd Fellow and Rebekah Memorial Eye Foundation, 45 Oakleaf Drive, Winnipeg, MB R2M 4G5. The burning taper of his life has been extinguished and he has crossed the silent river of death. His work among us is done, yet his influence will live to direct our actions.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 13, 2010