Uncle Henry!
My Uncle Henry lived a long life as we all know and will have left his mark on many, many people in his own unique ways. Besides leaving a legacy of a large family, being a strong family man, he influenced my life in small, and countless ways.
For those of us who knew him well, we will never be able to forget his countless retelling of his 20 year old shoes that were cared for and resoled SO many times! More seriously, Henry was a demonstration of an honest, sincere and religious uncle to me. He was always willing to share his wisdom and experience to leave behind growth, growth, knowledge and perhaps life altering ideas.
I recall vividly a visit to Swift Current where the family was subjected to home movies about his experiences drilling wildcat wells on Sable Island. (Home movies were never edited!). What fantastic images of Sable Island, the wild horses and beaches, and of course the oilfield workers camp and drilling rig. What a vision and dream for a 11 year old boy who was so captured that he (loosely speaking) followed in those footsteps in the wild oil patch. A few years later, I was working a summer on Stah Wapta ranch, learning about ‘hard labour’ but also getting an education into running a business…..things that Henry would proudly say ‘made a man out of Alain’. And later still, during the very brief period where we lived in Calgary at the same time, was able to enjoy his company and the endless stories of his life in the Blairmore mines during the war, life in the oilfield and the many countries he had lived in. Such great memories for me have cherish!
Uncle Henry, may you rest in peace, knowing that you are leaving behind those who deeply respected and loved you.
