Obituary of Thomas Welsh

Thomas Welsh beloved husband of Marie of Priddis, AB, passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at the age of 73 years. Born in Girvan, Scotland, Tom spent his first twenty years in Ayrshire. He had a happy childhood and always spoke fondly of Scotland. His parents, Francis “Percy” and Flora Welsh (nee Baird) were married in 1933. Tom was the oldest of four, with brothers David and John, and sister Elizabeth. After graduating from Ayr Academy and doing National Service for two years, Tom came to Canada in 1955 and started a long banking career. Tom’s first stop with the Bank of Nova Scotia was in Swift Current, and later he moved to Calgary, Nipawin, Lethbridge, Toronto, New York, and returned to Calgary. After twenty-seven years with Scotiabank, Tom left for senior positions with the Bank of British Columbia and Hong Kong Bank of Canada. In later years, after his banking career, he took on a variety of business and financial consulting assignments. He had many business associates who became life-long friends. Tom and his wife Marie (nee Schultz) married in 1959, and they were together for the next forty-eight years. The family grew to include three children, Douglas (Yvette), Donald (Suzanne), and Karen (Pierre Cauty). “Papa” will be greatly missed by his five grandchildren, Patrick, Nicole, Julia, Sara, and Thomas. Tom had a wide circle of friends from his many travels and activities. He loved the outdoors, and although he continued to have a soft spot for Scotland and Saskatchewan, he could not leave the Rocky Mountains for long. Many days were spent hiking with the Prairie Mountaineers, skiing with the Norseman Club, golfing near his home in Priddis, and cheering for the Roughies. He fought heart disease for the past two years, and although his body had weakened, his wise words and gentle spirit were always there to the end. We laughed with him and will miss his company greatly. He died peacefully with his family at his side. A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S “Fish Creek Chapel” (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Tom’s honour may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. In living memory of Thomas Welsh, 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.