ARTHUR GERALD SUFFRON

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ARTHUR GERALD SUFFRON Former member of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and Air Canada District Manager Arthur Gerald Suffron, 87, died on Monday, February 14, 2011 at McKinney Medical Center in McKinney, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 2000 West White Avenue, McKinney, TX 75069. Art was born November 13, 1923 in Elkdale, MB, Canada as the fifth child to Lillian Louise (Birch) and Solon Percival Suffron. On August 16, 1949 Art married his beloved wife and soul mate of 61 beautiful years, Anna Swann Johnston. He and Anna raised four wonderful children; Richard, Paul, Swan and Aubrey. Art loyally served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War and was honourably discharged at the end of the campaign. As a self-made man, Art dedicated 37 meaningful years of his professional life with unwavering service to Air Canada. As a result of his tenure with Air Canada, Art and his family took up residence in many wonderful cities throughout North America making connections and friendships in each. They were able to embrace such diverse communities as, Calgary, Chicago, Montreal, New York, Plano, Washington, DC and Winnipeg. Art was an active and proud Conservative with dual citizenship in Canada and the United States of America. In retirement, Art was never idle. He thoroughly enjoyed golf, tennis, running, billiards, hockey, reading, and travelling with his wife and children. He possessed an insatiable appetite for Chinese food. His favourite holiday was Halloween and he considered Easter the most blessed day of the year. He adored all animals and surrounded his family with schnauzers all their lives. He always got a chuckle from Charlie Brown and watched each holiday cartoon with his kids yearly. His most precious memories always stemmed from the summers spent at the beloved cottage in Grand Beach, MB, Canada. His family wrote: Art's kindness, fairness, unwavering devotion to God and love for all have made such an everlasting indelible impression on so many families, friends, and professional colleagues. There are so few times in life in which a common man comes along possessing such uncommon but cherished character and integrity; whose effortless deeds and words act as a constant demonstration to all the gracious and patient manner in which we should comport ourselves towards others and this world. We will miss him dearly and feel so blessed to have had him in our lives as a persistent beacon of decency and as the Patriarch of our Family. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Swan Johnston and Scott Smith of McKinney, TX; son Aubrey Suffron of Dallas, TX, son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Linda Suffron of Vancouver Island, Canada, grand-children, Ashli and Chante Suffron, great- granddaughters, Stella Suffron-Harris and Ayla Suffron-Packard, his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Calvin Russell, and his sister, Joan Vickers. Mr. Suffron was preceded in death by his oldest son Richard, his two brothers Gordon and Kenneth, and his sister Rita. Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in McKinney, TX was in charge of final arrangements and we extend our heartfelt thanks to them.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 16, 2011