Lorne CLARK

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CLARK: Lorne Alexander. Lorne passed away suddenly in Carberry, MB on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Lorne was born July 15, 1923 on the family farm near Somerset. Lorne attended school one mile east of his home at Harmer School. He began his lifelong love of farming in 1938 with his Dad and his brothers at their farm in the Somerset area. After he married Jessie Gates on October 24, 1953, he continued farming at Swan Lake and then later near Carberry where they moved in 1961. Lorne was always fond of horses, and enjoyed looking after them even when they were no longer needed for field work. He always had cattle on the farm and spent many happy hours working with his cattle, helping his five children raise steers for 4-H and maintaining his pasture land. Besides farming, Lorne worked as a farm labourer, a basement excavator, a landscaper and a school bus driver for 15 years. He was a talented carpenter who helped build the family home at Carberry, his son's home on the farm, and showed his fine carpentry skills by building kitchen cabinets and china cabinets. In his 70's he invented, designed, manufactured and sold cattle oilers. Lorne was enjoying watching Larry, Dustin and Marty take over the farm, watching out the window for them to drive into the yard and spending time with them as they completed their farm work. In his spare time, Lorne loved being outside, maintaining the farm and pasture land, maintaining machinery and working with his cattle. Lately his love of nature included planting and tilling the garden, planting and watering the flowerbeds, and watching the robins, swallows and hummingbirds that filled the yard. Lorne could also be found watching any one of his 13 grandchildren in whatever activity they were involved in such as baseball, curling, singing, drama, drawing, music, and hockey. He was particularly fond of watching hockey and this filled many happy hours as eight of his grandchildren played! He was thrilled to attend the St. Louis Blues tryouts with his son Laurie and grandson Andrew, as well as accompanying the Brandon AAA Midgets to Kenora, ON when they won the National Midget Championship in 2004. He was a Wheat King season ticket holder when Andrew played on the team and was looking forward to living in the town of Carberry this winter and being close to the rink to watch his grandsons, Dustin, Marty and Blayne play with the Carberry Plainsmen. Lorne loved listening to old time country music, fiddle music and playing his favourite songs by ear on the electronic organ and the harmonica. Lorne was a man of few words who loved to laugh, spend time with his family and friends, and who left a huge impression. He taught his children kindness, patience, the value of hard work and that every problem was solvable. He was predeceased by his parents, three sisters, four brothers-in-law, two brothers, and one sister-in-law. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, one sister, Vera Glawson (Brandon), one brother, Gordon (Evelyn) and sister-in-law Emma, all of Treherne, Jessie’s extended family as well as many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 56 years, Jessie (Gates), four daughters, one son and their families: Marilyn (Murray) Day, Desiree and Courtney; Lorraine (Larry) Fisher, Dustin, Marty and Blayne; Laurie (Carol) Clark, Andrew, Michael and Rikki; Lorna (Ray) Muirhead, Erica, Madison, and Kendall; Kim (Kevin) Chambers, Alec and Owen. A funeral service to celebrate Lorne's life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carberry United Church, Carberry, MB with Rev. Peggy Reid officiating. A private family graveside service at the Carberry Plains Cemetery will take place earlier in the day. A service of remembrance will be held at Beaconsfield Cemetery (Somerset) at a later date. Donations in memory of Lorne may be made to the Carberry Ag Society or to the Carberry Plains Community Centre.Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 20, 2009