ANDREW FOSTER (ANDY) GRIER

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ANDREW FOSTER (ANDY) GRIER October 12, 1937 - October 15, 2000 With his family at his side, husband, father and cherished friend Andy, passed away at the Victoria General Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Andy was born in Vita, Manitoba October 12, 1937 and was raised on the family farm at Woodmore, about 100 kilometres south of Winnipeg. He attended both Woodmore Elementary and nearby Greenridge High Schools. He followed later with his Bachelor of Arts at University of Winnipeg in 1981. Andy enjoyed a variety of occupations, including driving instructor at Don Carlson Driving School, Transit Manager City of Winnipeg, Griers General Store & Post Office in Ridgeville, Man., United Church Minister for the Stony Mountain/Lilyfield Pastoral Charge, Alcohol Counsellor at the Churchill Health Complex, Supervisor of the Teulon Residence, Correctional Services Canada, National Parole Board Member for 11 years and finally Director of the Community Reintegration Program of the John Howard Society. While working with the City of Winnipeg, Andy met, courted and married Betty-Lou Ruth Bogseth, and during their wonderful 37 years of marriage he and Betty raised three equally wonderful children. Andy was very active in all communities in which he and Betty lived, including past president of the St. Norbert Community Club, past president of the Fort Garry PC Association, former School Board Trustee for both the Seine River and Interlake School Divisions, a former team member for the World Wide Marriage Encounters, past member of Toastmasters, a member of the Board for Opportunities for Independence, and a member of the Committee for the 2001 International Conference on Restorative Justice. Andy designed and prepared the logo for the 2001 Conference, which will be used for all Conference promotional materials and correspondence. He was also selected to receive an award from the Aboriginal Ganootamaage Justice Services in 2000, for exceptional work in Restorative Justice. Andy was an avid gardener and water colour painter. He had several showings of his paintings, winning several awards. He delighted in doing paintings for family, friends and acquaintances. He was known for his wonderful sense of humour, his ability to speak publicly and for his ever-cheerful and positive attitude. Andys greatest joy and pride was his wife and family, and he was a devoted husband and father. Andy had a great propensity for getting to know and getting along with young people. He enjoyed them and they him in return. He had many young friends who looked up to him, and he also had 40 nieces and nephews, most of whom knew him well and loved him dearly. Andy leaves to mourn his beloved wife Betty; sons, Geoffrey and Campbell and daughter Jocelyn (Michael), as well as 12 sisters and brothers, Ethel Gilchrist, Earl (Irene), Norman (Edie), Murray (Mary), Vera Guyot, Alvin (Bea), Neale (Lorraine), Lillian (Billy), Jack, twin brother Allan (Marian), Brian (Carol) and Joyce. He also leaves to mourn parents-in-law Kathleen and Leslie Davis, brothers-in-law Rocklee (Sandra) Bogseth and Keith (Carol) Davis. Many thanks to Dr. Simon Wong and nursing staff at both Seven Oaks and Victoria Hospitals. Funeral Services will be held at the Stony Mountain United Church at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 20 with interment to follow at the Brookside Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Andys memory to the Stony Mountain United Church. NEIL BARDAL INC 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 18, 2000