Obituary of Cecil Roy McWilliam

With sadness, the family of Roy McWilliam announces his passing from this life, a mere twenty-seven days after the death of his wife Ilene. They had made a promise to each other when they married that they would go together, to spare either the pain of being left alone. That pact is now complete. Roy was born in Morse, SK, the fourth son and fifth child of Norman and Agnes who had travelled west from Ontario some ten years earlier to homestead on the prairies. The birth of a second sister followed, then the passing of his eldest brother and his mother from tuberculosis, leaving his father to raise the large family alone. It must have been a tough life, but Norman did an admirable job of guiding the family through those difficult years. Later in his life at home, Roy and his brothers, Wilf and George, “batched” on the original homestead, trying their hand at farming. When war broke out in 1939, Roy enlisted. To say his father was unhappy was an understatement of huge proportions, but the son was determined, and the father relented, seeing Roy off to basic training in Ontario. One day, on leave, sauntering down a Toronto street, Roy and a buddy spied two young ladies, struck up a conversation, and his fate was set. Roy and Ilene Wheater committed to each other, wrote faithfully throughout his time in England and the Continent, and reunited in 1945 when he returned, marrying in September. Their first son, Rob, was born in Toronto, and the remaining two children, Dave and Carol, in Saskatchewan after they moved back to farm near Morse. Roy was a farmer. If he hadn’t been, he would have been a cowboy! His love of the west extended to most every book he read in his life, and movies as well. He loved the land, the feel of it, the sight of the rippling fields of wheat, the grain running through his fingers into the bins. Children grow up, and they all ended up in Calgary. Roy and Ilene finally moved closer in 1997 to a seniors’ condo in Strathmore, AB, in a setting nearly identical to their home in Morse, complete with pond, reeds, and red-wing blackbirds. They remained there until Ilene’s health failed, forcing a move to Beverly Centre at Lake Midnapore in Calgary, where they resided until their passing. Roy is survived by his children, Rob, Dave (Linda) and Carol; six grandchildren, Jacqueline (Scott), Richard (Gen), Russell, Kirk (Michelle), Chad, and Sara; and three great-grandchildren, Dylan, Luke, and Arabella; as well as nephew Donald; and nieces, Linda, Betty, Sandi, Judi and their families. Roy was predeceased by his parents Norman and Agnes; brothers, Jack, Wilf and George; sisters, Kay and Jean; and by his wife Ilene. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the care provided by both the Beverly Centre and the Rockyview General Hospital in making their lives pleasant and comfortable in this last stage of their time here. In living memory of Roy McWilliam, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.