Obituary of Eldon STAFFORD

December 10, 1926 – Crossfield, Alberta
November 23, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Eldon (Stubby) Stafford, beloved uncle and friend passed away suddenly on Monday, November 23, 2020 at the age of 93 years. 

Eldon was born on December 10, 1926 at the family farm east of Crossfield, AB, the youngest of three sons to Wilson and Marie (nee Anderson) Stafford.  He rode his Shetland pony to the rural Floral school with his brothers, Mervin and Clayton. He drove a school bus while attending high school in Crossfield. His friends nicknamed him Stubby after his favourite drink, Stubby grape soda, and that is how he has been fondly known for the rest of his life.  It fit well on a man who was loved and will be sadly missed for his humour, laughter, optimism and sense of adventure.

We thought of him, he referred to himself, as a kid who refused to grow up. He always loved toys – big and small – the crazier or noisier, the better.  He still had a few toys from his own childhood and added to them as each generation came along so we could all play together.  Christmas was always a very special time and his trips to the toy store for the latest things on the kid’s lists were always part of that.

Stub stayed on the farm and bought his first car at age sixteen.  His second car was a 1921 Model “T” Ford which started his lifelong hobby of buying, restoring, showing and selling a long list of antique and classic cars. He was a member of the Alberta Pioneer Auto Club, local Model A and Model T clubs and received awards in recognition of his service and contributions to that community. Stub loved Stampede and participated in the parade with his classic cars and walked the grounds enjoying everything as if it were a new experience even though he did this every year.

His love for travel started young and he took some long trips into the USA and western Canada, one with a buddy on their Harleys. In 1952, four of them drove to New York, then Florida and flew to Cuba, quite an adventure for young guys in those days. He loved planes too and got his pilot’s license in 1959.

Stub met Avis, who had come from New Brunswick to work as a nurse in Calgary, and they were married on June 24, 1967. They enjoyed the farm life and all the activities with friends that came in their old cars, some of which they stored at the farm. In 1987, they retired from farming and moved to their condo in Calgary. They travelled near and far, often with good friends, ranging from car rallies in the countryside to nearly every continent in the world.

Stub survived and came back from some health challenges and became a resident at AgeCare Midnapore in 2011 where he passed.  Avis also resided there until her passing on November 26, 2016.  We appreciate the love and care they both received there. 

Uncle Stub is survived by his three nieces, Carol (Norm) Morrison of Calgary, Gay Stafford (Don Arnold) of Airdrie and Janice (Ray) Lauzon of Carstairs.  He was great-uncle to Leanne Morrison, Tammy Bartlett, Dean Morrison and their families.

A Graveside Service will be held at Crossfield Cemetery (Township Rd 285, Crossfield, AB) on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Eldon’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Eldon Stafford, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

View Eldon Stafford's Memorial Card Here