Obituary of FERRIS – Cyril

April 24, 1922 – May 11, 2010 Cyril Ferris beloved husband of Mary Ferris of Calgary, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the age of 88 years. Cy is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary; three children, Doug (Sharon), Joanne (Bill) Butler, and Kathy (Mike) Gratton; eight grandchildren, Brett, Caroline (Pat) Gartner, Shannon (Mike) Slobodan, Andrea, Christopher Butler, Paige, Ashleigh, and Nicholas Gratton; five great grandchildren and by his brothers Keith of Calgary and Art of London, Ont. He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Winnifred Ferris; brother Ralph; and sisters, Joan, Lorna, and Velma. Cy was born in Raymore Saskatchewan April 24, 1922 and grew up on the prairies during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the RCAF on his 18th birthday in 1940, served overseas as a gunnery training pilot, and as a heavy bomber pilot with 434 Squadron. Pilot Officer Ferris won the Distinguished Flying Cross over Oberhausen in 1944 ‘for courage and coolness of the highest order’. He met and wed Mary Beaton in Scotland in 1942 and they shared sixty seven years together, settling in Calgary after the war. Cy spent thirty five years working for Domtar Chemicals in purchasing until his retirement in 1987. In 1957, Cy and Mary built their cottage in Windermere and this has been the focus of family summer and leisure activities ever since. The years after retirement, in his own words, were the best of his life. He was a legendary fisherman. When not on the lake, he spent his time writing poetry, building rustic willow furniture, working on projects around the cabin and the beach or golfing. On his 70th birthday, he scored a hole-in-one. Cy was remarkable for his eternal optimism and he always thought the best of his fellow man. Cy left his own eulogy: Don’t cry, don’t fret I’ve lived my life. If I had a choice, I would do it twice. A Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Crowfoot Chapel (82 Crowfoot Circle N.W.), on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. You may forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to The Mustard Seed (102 – 11th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB, Canada T2G-0X5) In living memory of Cy FERRIS, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park, Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.