EARL BILLSON

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EARL BILLSON October 12, 1955 - March 9, 2011 It is with heartbroken sorrow that we announce our father, husband and friend Earl Billson slipped away peacefully losing his courageous battle with cancer on March 9, 2011 in Grande Prairie, AB surrounded by the love of his family. Earl was born October 12, 1955 in Fort Frances, Ontario, to Jim and Maxine Lamb. His family moved to Winnipeg when he was five, and he spent the majority of his life there. He graduated from Elmwood High in 1973. Earl always had a passion for working, learning and giving. In high school he worked at A W and Chalmers Autobody where he restored his own 1955 Chevy and 1938 Mercury. He was so proud of working at Boeing Canada for several years after high school - airplanes and space exploration were one of his passions and it is fitting that he passed the same day as the final landing of the space shuttle Columbia. While at Boeing he taught himself sign language to better work with several deaf co-workers - a skill that served him well and surprised many throughout his life. He took up the plumbing trade and started his own company doing residential and commercial work in Winnipeg until he moved to Grande Prairie in 2005. Earl was well known for his high quality work, his patience and dogged determination to fix the problem - a dog with a bone. He was a tall, strong man with his Popeye arms , but had a gentle, respectful demeanor. He had many passions: art, music, the ballet, Boy Scouts, winemaking, live theatre, writing and mastering the perfect steak on the barbecue to name a few. With his penchant for doing things a little over the top he became very good at everything he tried. One passion he truly excelled at was photography. He was rarely seen without his camera case and took pictures of people, sunsets, clouds, nature, life around him, plumbing jobs, weddings and most recently the Raiders Bantam Football team where he produced team programs and power point presentations rivaling those professionally done. He never charged a fee for anything he did - it was for fun! Mourning his passing are his loving wife Lorraine (nee Lefebvre), his daughter Sarah Lefebvre and three sons, Matthew Billson, Andrew Billson and Simon Lefebvre, all of Grande Prairie; his parents Jim and Maxine Lamb of Winnipeg, brothers Gerald and James of Winnipeg, his in-laws Louis and Ghislaine Lefebvre of Cold Lake, sisters-in-law Aline (John Pollock), Carole (Grant St.Onge), Monique (Warren Sundlie) and brother-in-law Phillippe Lefebvre (Alania), 14 nieces and nephews, one great-nephew, a very large extended family and many, many friends. Earl will always be remembered for his hearty laugh, his ability to entertain with his stories, his generosity and most importantly being a man of integrity. May the work I have done speak for me. Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grande Prairie Alliance Church, 15502 102 Street. A luncheon time will follow the service. A memorial service will also be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba with date, time and location to be announced. Earl would be proud to know others were helped in his name. Memorial donations may be made to Salvation Army Food Bank, QEII Hospital Palliative Care or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.oliversgrandeprairie.com Oliver's Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel Crematorium 10005-107 Ave. Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V-1L8 (780)532-2929 Dedicated Service Since 1915

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 11, 2011