MELVIN WALKEY HAM

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MELVIN WALKEY HAM Melvin Walkey Ham of Carman, MB passed away peacefully at the Boyne Lodge on his 92nd birthday. Mel was born to Samuel and Sarah Ham at Vista, MB, June 1, 1909, and lived and worked in that district until joining the Royal Canadian Signal Corps in 1940. That year he married Catherine Baker, also of Vista, and they had three children, Marlene, Wayne and Melvin Jr. In 1942, he began his career as a telegraph operator for the C.P.R. and retired from the railway in 1974 after 32 years service with the company. During that time he resided in several communities: Ignace, Dyment, and Upsala, ON; Alida, SK; Lauder and Elm Creek, MB. He spent several years as a bachelor after the passing of his wife before marrying Muriel Porter of Carman. They enjoyed many years at Lake Seven, MB during the summer and Victoria, BC in the winter until Muriels passing in 1985. Mel continued wintering in Victoria while he was able, for several years. Mel loved music. Coming from a musical household, he learned the piano and violin as a boy, playing the fiddle in Vista for his first dance audience at the age of 11. Over his lifetime Mel made countless friends from all parts of Canada through his music, and in later years was thrilled to be a part of orchestras in southwest Manitoba and in Victoria, BC. Mel was especially proud when his grandchildren Nathan and Lauren carried on the familys musical tradition. Mel was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine (Baker) and wife Muriel (Porter). He leaves to mourn his daughter Marlene (Brian) Stouffer of Brandon; son Wayne (Isabel) of Oshawa, ON; and son Mel (Fiona) of Glenboro. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren, Tim (Brenda) Stouffer of Winnipeg, Jeff (Jaqui) Stouffer of Borden, ON, Jason and Chris Ham of Oshawa, ON, and Lauren and Nathan Ham of Glenboro. He also had four great-grandchildren, Bradley, Mathew, and Sydney Stouffer and Karya Ham. Mel is also survived by his sisters, Cora Miller of Abernethy, SK, Doreen McCarvil of Guelph, ON and brother Leonard (Alma) Ham of Montreal, PQ. Funeral service will be held at Doyles Funeral Chapel in Carman on Tuesday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Lauder Cemetery, Lauder, MB at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mels memory to the Boyne Lodge, Box 1644, Carman, MB or to the Carman Hospital Palliative Care Unit, Box 610, Carman, MB R0G 0J0. The family would like to thank all the care givers at Parkview Manor and Boyne Lodge, and special thanks to Barb Doerksen, Bob McDonald, Doug McEachern, Laurie Graham, Cindy Pyatt, and Bonnie Owen for their care and concern over the years. Doyles Funeral Home, Carman, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 04, 2001