Gerald Arthur Parcells

Our Dad, Gerald Arthur Parcells (“Gerry”), began his life on May 20, 1937 in Lindsay, Ontario. He was the son of Arthur Parcells and Irene Nesbitt and baby brother to Reginald, Doreen (“Flossie”), Ialene and Ruby. A younger brother, Lloyd, came later. It was the time of the Great Depression and then the Second World War and the family worked hard together to support themselves and make life better. They were also part of a large extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who lived in the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton regions of Ontario. Family, hard work and fun went together. Gerry grew up in a loving family and he was a gregarious and fun-loving lad who made friends easily and enjoyed life.

Gerry was somewhat indifferent to formal education. He finished his formal schooling in grade 8 and was admonished by a teacher who told him that he would probably not amount to much. Undaunted, Gerry went to work for McMillan Dairy in Lindsay to begin his long working life. In 1955, Gerry and his friends, Ron Nugent, Alec Oliver and Sieb Luchies, decided to take a road trip to Vancouver, BC. Part of Gerry’s motivation to leave Lindsay seems to have been because he had rolled his older brother’s car and putting some distance between himself and Lindsay seemed like a good idea. On their way to Vancouver, the young men stopped in Calgary to work for a short time to replenish their funds. They looked around and liked what they saw and when Gerry met a young Gail Tarves while roller-skating, his destiny was set. He and Gail dated for several years and they were married at Crescent Heights United Church in 1958. Gerry then became a son-in-law to Gail’s parents, Gordon Tarves and Goldie Michie, brother-in-law to Gail’s siblings, Bruce, Laurie, Terry, Gordon, Beryl and Joan and their spouses and uncle to a multitude of nephews and nieces whom he loved.

In 1960, Gerry and Gail bought their home in the Charleswood neighbourhood in NW Calgary for the incredible sum of $12,000. Gerry ignored the advice of friends who told him he would never be able to afford it and he and Gail lived in that home for the rest of their life together, making numerous improvements that made it a comfortable and welcoming residence. Gerry took great pride in his home, lawns and gardens and the flower garden he tended in the back yard became an oasis of beauty and serenity. In addition to his home, Gerry and Gail acquired a cabin in Windermere, BC in 1988. It became a second home and a favourite destination for Gerry and Gail and their family and friends.

Gerry began his career in Calgary working for a time as a baker, but he decided there was no dough in that occupation and on the recommendation of his close friend, Bobby McFarlane, he took a job at Lithocraft Printing in NE Calgary. There he began his lifelong career in the printing industry as a printer, union leader for the LPIU, manager, salesman, teacher and businessman. In about 1970, Gerry was offered a job teaching printing at SAIT and with some spare time on his hands while teaching, he decided to start a small print shop in the basement of his home with a single employee, Doug Cross, who stayed with him for the rest of his career. That business soon expanded and relocated to commercial premises where it continued to grow and thrive and became one of the major print shops in Western Canada. He was an astute businessman and he enjoyed much success and prosperity. He also enjoyed a successful partnership in the later part of his business career with his partners Dick Reuser, Don McLeod and Bruce Fraser.

While Gerry enjoyed great success in the printing industry, his greatest joy came from his family. He took great delight in his family’s company and they loved him dearly and respected and admired him for his example of devotion to Gail and the rest of his family. Gerry also never forgot his Ontario roots and he stayed closed to his Ontario family whom he loved. Vacations to Ontario with Gail and the kids were a regular occurrence. Gerry and Gail had four children and he is survived by Gail and his four children and their spouses - Lindsay and Ronda Parcells, Lori and Mike McCrae, Leslie and Doug Pratt and Lynda and Chad Weyman; fourteen grandchildren and their spouses and fiancés – Janelle and Cooper, Justin and Vanessa, Britanny, Katelyn and Brody, Jaymie and Taylor, Daniel, Brianna and Curtis, Jarrett and Rylee, Brooke, Julie and Jacob, Darren, Sophie, Charlie and Jake; and seven great-grandchildren – Easton, Briggs, Parker, Benjamin, Wynter, Giselle, and Navy. He is also survived by his three sisters, Flossie, Ialene and Ruby, his younger brother, Lloyd, Gail’s sister, Joan Evans, and numerous nephews, nieces and extended family.

Gerry made friends easily and he stayed loyal to his many friends. If you were fortunate enough to make his acquaintance, he was generous with his time and talents. Besides his family, his career and his friends, Gerry had a number of other passions. Gerry loved cars and during his life, he acquired a number of antiques and classics including a Model A, a 1938 Ford coupe and a 1960 Cadillac Bel Air. Gerry was a proud Canadian. He was also a staunch fan of the Maple Leafs and he often had trouble finding someone to join him at Flames games when the Leafs were in town because he was so outspoken in his support for the Leafs. He also loved baseball and football and he had season tickets for the Stampeders for decades. Gerry and Gail loved to travel and they shared many fun and exciting trips throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and other destinations. Gerry had a quick wit, an intelligent mind and an occasionally hot temper. He was not afraid to voice his opinion, particularly at sporting events, and this was especially true when he attended his children's and grandchildren’s games. He was a good story teller, loved a good clean joke and he was loved by all who knew him well.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and Gerry’s time on this Earth ended on April 17, 2021. We are grateful for the excellent care he received at the Cochrane Urgent Care Centre and the Foothills Hospital and we are very grateful that in his final hours, he was surrounded by his family. He lived a good, full, happy and successful life and we are grateful for his influence and example. He is dearly missed. Until we meet again Dad.

Gerry’s memorial service will be live-streamed from Fosters Garden Chapel in Calgary on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 2:00 PM MDT. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada at, https://www.heartandstroke.ca, the Canadian Diabetes Association at https://www.diabetes.ca, or the Calgary Humane Society at https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/.