Irwin: Lorna  1919 - 2005

Lorna Frances Lydia Irwin (nee Richards), beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister joined her Lord and Saviour on November 27, 2005 passing away peacefully at the Hanna Extended Care Complex at the age of 86 years. One of seven children born to Dwight and Mertie Richards of Arrowwood.

Lorna was born on August 8, 1919. Later Lorna married Lloyd Irwin in January of 1940 at Arrowwood, Alberta. She moved to Calgary in 1949 and lived there for 53 years before moving out to Craigmyle in 2003. Lorna spent the last two years of her life in Hanna at the Hanna Lodge and Extended Care Complex. Being born a farm girl, Lorna had a great love of nature and spent many hours in her garden and yard nurturing plants to life. Farming was always near Lorna¹s heart whether it was visiting her sons and their families on their farms, walking through the crops taking samples of grain, or finding an unusual rock for her collection. Lorna had an unshakeable faith sustaining her through many times in life and was a dedicated member of the
Bethel Baptist Church in Calgary. She had a real passion for music and especially for playing the piano. But Lorna's greatest love of all was for her family whom she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with.

Lorna was predeceased by her husband, Lloyd Irwin, her parents, Dwight and Mertie Richards and her brother, Gordon Richards. She leaves behind her sons; Gary and his wife Marilyn, and Byron and his wife Sandra. Lorna is survived by her grandchildren: Leah Hunter (Jim Hunter), Brett Irwin, Shawna Johnston (Lee Johnston), Vance Irwin (Karen Irwin), and Maria Withey (Sam Withey); and eight great-grandchildren Grant, Mark, Paige, Justin, Spencer, Dylan, Tyler and Nolan. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Leroy Richards, Margaret Dumka, Erma Lawson, Don Richards, and Anne Kostenuk. We would like to extend our deepest thanks for the compassionate care given by the staff of the Hanna Dialysis Unit and her caregivers at the Hanna Extended Care Complex. Funeral services were held at the Arrowwood Gospel Church at 1 p.m. on December 1, 2005. Interment was at the Arrowwood Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. also on December 1, 2005. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hanna Extended Care Complex, Hanna, AB  T0J 1P0. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family care of Byron Irwin, Box 45, Craigmyle, AB  T0J 0T0.

McPhee: Melville Anthony  July 7, 1922 - November 30, 2005

Melville Anthony McPhee of Edmonton passed away November 30 at the age of 83 after a short but valiant battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Eva, his sister-in-law Nellie (Mrs.Wallace) McPhee of Westbank, B.C., his sister-in-law Kay (Mrs. Elmer) McPhee of Calgary, and many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews to whom he was a very special uncle. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Mary, brothers Alonzo, Wallace, Chester, and Elmer, an infant sister Margaret, and his sister-in-laws Mae (Mrs. Chester) McPhee and Ida (Smart) Nygaard.

Mel was born in Drumheller, where the family had recently moved so that his father could work in the coal mines.  He grew up in Wayne.  He left school in Grade 10 to help support the family and had a variety of jobs in the Drumheller valley.  He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1942, and served in the infantry with the Loyal Edmonton (49th) Regiment.  He trained in Canada and England, saw active duty in Italy and Holland and was a veteran of the Battle of Ortona.  After demobilization, he returned to the Drumheller area, then moved in 1952 to Elk Island National Park, where he worked for the Park Service.  He married Eva Smart of Wayne in 1955.  In 1956 they moved to Edmonton, where Mel went to work for the Alberta Department of Highways (later Transportation).  He remained there for the rest of his career, retiring as a manager in the sign shop in 1981.  He and Eva enjoyed a happy retirement, travelling and sharing their sociability and hospitality with friends and family.  Highlights of his retirement were his three trips to Italy to revisit Ortona, and his involvement with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment ­ in particular, his countless hours volunteering at the regimental museum.  He maintained contact with friends from his childhood in Wayne, and was instrumental in organizing a Wayne reunion in 1982, as well as the erection of a commemorative monument to the Wayne cemetery in 2004.

A memorial celebration of Mel's life was held Saturday, December 3, 2005 in Edmonton.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mel may be made to St. Joseph's Auxiliary Hospital, Palliative Care, 10707 ­ 29 Ave., Edmonton T6J 6W1, or to the Museum of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Prince of Wales Armouries, 10440 ­ 108 Ave., Edmonton, T5H 3Z9.

Shier: Reginald James

Reginald James Shier passed away peacefully at home on December 1, 2005 at the age of 75 after a courageous battle with cancer. Beloved husband and best friend of Irene; dear father of David (Louise) of Peachland, B.C., Tim (Cindy), Rick (Dawn) of Arnprior, Ontario, Chris of Montreal, Tom (Carolyn) of Wooler, Ontario. Fondly remembered by grandchildren; Christine Adam, Larissa, Sara and Katelyn. Survived by his brother Fred (Kathy) Shier of Kingston, his sisters Colleen (Boris) Nahornick and Lynne (Blaine) Zacharuk of Drumheller, Alberta and his extended family from Saskatchewan. Predeceased by his parents Thomas Shier and Eva Shier Alexander and his special aunt, Annie Coughlin. The family received friends at the Lindsay Funeral Home, Sydenham Monday, December 5, 2005 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Masonic Service by Lorne Lodge #404 on Monday, December 5 at 6:45 p.m., all Sister Lodges were invited to attend. Funeral service took place at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Sydenham, Tuesday, December 6, 2005 at 11 a.m. Interment of ashes in the family plot at Christ Church Cemetery, Tamworth, Ontario at a later date.

Thompson: George (Shorty)  1929 - 2005

George (Shorty) Thompson was  born June 28, 1929 in Bassano, AB, and passed away peacefully in Strathmore on December 2, 2005. Beloved husband of Lois; dearly loved dad of Richard, Robert (Blodwen), Wendy (Grant) Johnson, Kathy (Egan) Koustrup; a beloved grandpa (Papa) to Tyler, Candace, Jaime, Ashley, Kristy, Lisa, Lindsey, Shane, Trevor, Kyra, Kelsi-Lynn, Mikaela; and great-grandpa to Haley and Emily. He loved his family deeply and they all knew they were special and unique to him. He was also a dad, grandpa and uncle figure to many others who knew his loving nature. He was predeceased by a daughter Brenda in 1979, a sister Betty, brother-in-law George, and sister-in-law Ellen. He is survived by two brothers, Bill (Della) and John (Mae); a brother-in-law Doug (Irene) McIntosh; numerous nieces and nephews, and Cathy McManus (mother of Candace, Ashley and Lisa). When he was young he worked on numerous farms and ranches in the area. After their marriage they farmed the family farm until retiring to Hussar in 1989, but he never lost interest in wanting to help out. He enjoyed his cattle, horses, hunting and fishing in the mountains with his friends, was a dedicated 4-H leader, a lineman for the local phone lines and director on the Gas Co-op. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2005 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hussar at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Strathmore Palliative Care (200 Brent Blvd., Strathmore, Alberta T1P 1J9), or to Hussar Sundowners Centre (Box 113, Hussar, AB  T0J 1S0) for television-video equipment. Wheatland Funeral Home Ltd. (Strathmore) in care of arrangements. (403) 934-5666.

Volb: Annie Alice  1929 - 2005

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Annie Alice Volb of Drumheller at the Drumheller Hospital on November 29, 2005 at the age of 76. Annie was born in Craigmyle, Alberta on March 7, 1929. She was raised in the Handhills and later moved to Drumheller where Annie and her twin sister Elsie found employment. The twins always found employment together. Annie met her soulmate Ernest Volb in Drumheller, and they were married March 17, 1951, where they raised their seven children. Annie loved family, laughing and playing cards.

Annie is predeceased by her husband Ernest (1977); brothers Billy (1963), Raymond (1979) and Clarence (1992). She is survived by her twin sister Elsie Shandera, her sister May Pugh and her brother Rudolph (Mary) Shandera; all of Drumheller. She is survived by her seven loving children: Mary Anne Hill, Robert (Janet) Volb, Marlene (Garry) Bixby, Florence (Alan) Hodgson, Shirley (Clifford) Morrow, Andrew (Trish) Volb and Linda Volb; 11 grandchildren, Mary (Mark) Gyman, Debbie Hill; April (Brock) Hamilton, Meghan Volb; Crystal Bixby (Darcy Schinnour), Darren Bixby; Sheldon (Tina) Hodgson, Lena Hodgson (Jason Pederson), Derek Hodgson (Kristina Triadopoulos); Michelle Morrow (Eric Jensen), Stacey Morrow; and three great-grandchildren: Jordan Gyman, Makayla Hodgson and Mackenna Schinnour. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by all of her friends and family.

Funeral services were held Saturday, December 3, 2005 at the Church of the Nazarene officiated by Pastor James. Interment in the Drumheller Cemetery. A reception followed at the Drumheller Inn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Drumheller Hospital Continuing Care or the Canadian Diabetes Foundation. Courtney-Winter's Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements. 823-2666.