Obituary of Barry Lloyd Lahey

Barry Lloyd Lahey passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, January 20, 2006, in his seventy-seventh year. Barry was born on 22 March 1929 in the front bedroom of 522 Avenue E, South, Saskatoon SK, the home of his grandmother Florence Bird. His early years were spent in the prairie towns of Yonker, Bashaw, Ryley, and Winter, before the family settled in Athabasca, AB, which he considered his home town. While still in school he met his future wife Misette Godel. The two became fast friends and companions, becoming youth leaders, organizing dances, outings, and became active members of the Athabasca High School Student Council. Barry was a fine athlete. He conceived and helped build Athabasca’s first ski jump on a hill now overlooked by the Seniors’ Residence. He was the catcher for the Athabasca Baseball Team, and recalled with pleasure the companionship of those players. He was also Flight Sergeant and Leader of the Athabasca Air Cadet Squadron. Barry began his university education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1953 to 1959. The last four years, 1955-1959, were spent at CFB Dorval QC, 426 Transport Squadron, flying worldwide as a navigator on Northstars (DC-4s). He treasured these years, looking forward to the biennial reunions of his Squadron to renew old friendships. Subsequently, Barry returned to the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained his B. Geology 1961 and M. Geology 1965. He initially worked as a geologist with the Saskatchewan government, then moved with his family to Calgary in 1970. He became a Petroleum Geology Consultant to the Canadian oil and gas industry and President of Sunrise Enterprises Inc, Calgary AB, a company specializing in mapping western Canadian oil fields. He was proud of his Irish ancestry, his Tipperary homeland and his membership in the Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants. Barry married his childhood sweetheart, Misette Godel in 1955 and together they raised five children. Following Misette’s death in 1981, Barry married Lise (Chamberland) Hutchins, and proudly embraced her two sons as part of his family. Family was always central to his life. He showed this priority by consistently supporting his children and grandchildren in all their endeavours. His quiet, dry humour endeared him to all and he was loved and will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. Barry is the beloved husband of Lise (Chamberland-Hutchins) Lahey; and proud father of Michelle Vicenzino (Enzo), Linette McKinnon (Dale), Simone Lahey, Rene Lahey (Janet), and Monique Byrne (Scott), all of Calgary; and Lise’s sons, Rene Hutchins (Robynne) of Port Macquarie, Australia, and Kevin Hutchins (Angela) of Queenscliff, Australia. He is also survived by two brothers, Dale Lahey (Peggy) of Guelph, ON, and Daniel Lahey of Vancouver, BC; a brother-in-law John Godel; sister-in law Suzanne Stelter; a beloved aunt, Rose Ellen (Buddy) Lahey of Saskatoon, SK; twelve grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased in 1981 by first wife Marie-Louise “Misette” (Godel) Lahey; parents, Lloyd and Irene; brother Patrick Lahey; and beloved grandmother Florence Ada (Armstrong-Lahey) Bird. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Barry Lahey, a tree will be planted by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.