Maurice DICKSON

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DICKSON: Maurice Howard. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maurice Howard Dickson, age 77 years of Rivers, MB, on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg. Maurice is survived by his wife Marilyn; sons Mike (Emily) and Jeff (Bonnie) and grandchildren: Brendon (Tammy), Shandra and Shane and his sister Norma. Maurice was born on October 25, 1937 at Walpole, Saskatchewan and moved to Rivers, Manitoba as a young man with his brother Edgar, to put in sewer and water. He later got a job with International Water Supply Company, where he worked until 1964 when he started his own business... M & M Drilling. He found the time to serve his community with the Rivers Ambulance for twenty-five years and many years as a firefighter, including a time as Chief. The station wagon was usually loaded with as much equipment and kids as it would take and many a mile was driven going to either a ballgame or hockey tournament. Each year his family's entire summers were spent camping and installing the water wells there. He was always quick to respond to a request to fix something or lend a hand either from his family or the community. He would always seem to have the right thing on hand to fix whatever needed to be done. It was once said that he wasn't a hoarder, just Scottish. While standing in a trench, Maurice first laid eyes on his future wife, Marilyn, as she walked by. Their conversation and subsequent marriage was his wisest choice, and lasted for the next fifty-three years. He loved to dance to old time music with his wife or new music with his grandchildren. Maurice enjoyed trips with Marilyn to Cuba, Spain and Scotland, where the highlight of his trip was a pheasant hunt. He tore down a barn to use some of the wood to build the family cabin at Lake Metigoshe. He always said that the best part of the cabin was enjoying the friends and family gatherings while building it. Later in life, Maurice had more spare time to spend with his grandchildren and watch them grow. He loved his gardening in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. He would start his seeds out early in the garage, but many times he would lose the labels and therefore it was, what could be called, a random garden. You had to wait and see what you were going to get. As an avid ice fisherman, Maurice shared his catch with many seniors in town but it was only recently he learned to hone his filleting skills. He always seemed to fit in time to read his westerns and kept the local library busy trying to find books he hadn't already read. He would put on the inside cover his initials, MHD, so they would know he had already read it. You always knew when Maurice was in the building, his "Dickson Laugh" was unmistakable, and he was always quick to give a good nature tease to anyone who gave him an opening. Maurice was a businessman, handyman, fisherman, hunter, golfer, curler, a maker of jerky; a beloved husband, dad, grandpa, son-in-law, kind neighbour, good friend, an active member of the Rivers Community, a loved one by all. He will be sadly missed. Funeral Service was held at the Rivers United Church on Wednesday March 4, 2015. Rev. Glenna Beauchamp officiated. Interment will be held at the Rivers Cemetery at a later date. Continuing his community involvement, donations may be made in Maurice's name to the Riverdale Community Centre, P.O. Box 520, Rivers, MB, R0K 1X0. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 204-727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 07, 2015