Obituary of COUTTS – Earle Kitchener

March 9, 1923 – March 6, 2011 Earle K. Coutts (1923 – 2011) passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the age of 87 years. Earle was born on a small farm in Ontario and was the first of his family to graduate from High School. Following service with the RCNVR (1942 – 1946), spending nearly two years at sea in the Atlantic, Burma and the Pacific Theatres of War. Due to his war injuries he was unable to farm. He graduated from Ontario Agricultural College with Honours; was awarded a letter in Soccer and Student Council Award as outstanding student. He co-chaired the re-establishment of Alumni Weekend it Guelph after WWII. He spent the next 30+ years with Canada Malting. He transferred to Calgary in 1966, where he continued his research and promoted many efficiencies, including developing the Japanese market for Canadian Barley Malt, which resulted in over 4 Billion Dollars of Canadian Malt (all produced and processed in Alberta) being shipped to Japan. He retired as Manager of Western Canada. Earle was a lifelong volunteer at the federal, provincial and local level, volunteering over 14, 000 hours over a period of 40 years. As the late Vinny Jacques, past Governor of Rotary District #5360, had once said, “Coutts is never front and centre, but is always there when needed.” He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by the Downtown Rotary Club in 1994. He and Jean enjoyed many winter holidays in Florida, California, and Hawaii. His gruff, sardonic sense of humour will be missed. He will be fondly remembered by his surviving two sons Ric (D.D.) and Rob (Sammee); his three granddaughters, Calyn (Steve), Alyssa, and Jacqueline. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Andrew and Luella Coutts; his sister Dorene McCreath in 1966, his brother Carl in 2000, his daughter Carol Anne in 2006; and his loving wife and friend of 56 years, Jean in 2008. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Crowfoot Chapel (82 Crowfoot Circle N.W.), on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. You may forward condolences through . If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Salvation Army, 420 – 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0R9 Telephone: (403) 410-1111, www.salvationarmy.org. In living memory of Earle Coutts, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.