Ray Ford

Ray was born December 26, 1943 died on April 8th, 2011 at St. Boniface Hospital, after a short, courageous battle with cancer. Ray passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved him deeply.

He is survived by Brenda (Meakin) his beloved wife of 26 years, daughter, Lesleigh Rae (Cory Morriseau), son, James Ford (Michelle Pink) and daughter, Jennifer Ford, his grandchildren Dylan and Taylor Morriseau, along with countless other friends and family who were blessed to know him.

Ray was predeceased by his mother Dorothy Agnes (Shaw) and father Philip Leslie Ford.

Ray was born in Hamilton Ontario and moved to Winnipeg at a young age. He graduated from Churchill High, Red River Community College and worked for the City of Winnipeg until his retirement in 1997.

Known to his friends as Raymondo the Magnificent, Ray's heart was at Caddy Lake in the cottage originally built by his father and mother and later finished by his own hands. It was the place where he honed his craft, and perfected his attention for details. He dedicated his time to ensuring he built a warm and inviting home on the lake, a place where everyone was welcome. Ray was at his happiest assisting with projects or hauling around kids behind the boat.

Ray touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trade mark sense of humour to the end. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday April 13, 2011 at 2pm, at Green Acres Funeral Home.

The family requests all donations be sent to the Winnipeg Humane Society.

The family would like to thank Dr. Tim Hiebert and all staff of the Palliative Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital. You were all wonderful to Ray. A very sincere and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Fatoye and his nurse, Ruth from Kildonan Medical. You were always there when we needed you.

GREEN ACRES

Funeral Home and Cemetery

1 Green Acres Lane, Springfield (204) 222-3241

Hwy #1 inside the Perimeter at Winnipeg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ray Ford

Raymond

Raymondo

Raymondo the Magnificent

Loving husband

Loving father

Loyal friend

Handyman

Artist

Photogragher and…

Peace Negotiator

Lake Memories by Darrel Dyck,

These were just some of the many attributes that put the “Magnificent”in his name. From the road plow guy to the C. O’s, he was well known around Caddy Lake.(You can ask James about the C.O. stories). His popularity around block 4 gained him the title informally of course, the Mayor.

His great sense of humour and often bold approach to getting a laugh or response from total strangers left people with the impression that they have known him for a long time. He gained your interest in him first and your friendship immediately after.

I can recall one story of when we were having a Kareoke party on Keat’s beach and the RCMP came to shut us down. Instead of saying” sorry officer we will turn it down”, Ray stood up quickly offered them a drink and asked if they would join in on one last song …I believe it was “Hit the Road Jack “. Then after said , “well if you’re going to fine us, just put it on the Ray Ford Infractions Sheet”. They of course were able to chuckle at his bold humour and left without giving us a fine.

Ray was never happy unless he had a project of some sort. No project was too big for him. He was always there to help others and would never walk away until there was a solution and the job was complete. It was in his nature to always put others first and himself last. He was the most generous person I knew. As far as tools and equipment was concerned, what was his was yours, ……as long as you signed it out on his little white board in the boat house first.

One of the job’s I remember well was just last spring. We were getting ready to work on the docks. Ray had put a bit of weight on over the winter and as we zipped up our wet suites to go into cold spring water, Ray starts to laugh and looks down at himself in his tight wet suite and says, “I look like a giant woodtick!” Yes if you were lucky to be involved with Ray in a project, you would be knee deep in mud, laughter and good times.

He was extremely meticulous and organized. Just take one look at his wood pile and you will know where I’m coming from. From the boat house to the deck the lawn and the dock everything had its place. That is how he managed his life. Like his wood pile he wanted everything at the lake to be stable and just so. If there was conflict among neighbors you could see Ray marching from cottage to cottage mediating and negotiating for peace.

I believe he missed his calling. As a peace negotiator I believe Ray would of helped getting us one step closer to world peace.

Yes, Ray was Caddy Lake, and each and everyone of us down there will often be reminded of the many ways he affected our lives. There will be many moments when we will stop for a second and chuckle or just smile remembering things he would be doing or would say. It always gave me a joy when we would drive up the Caddy Lake road and see his vehicle parked in his drive way. I knew the weekend would be extra special because Ray was there.

I will miss the sounds of power tools coming from his cottage and the s of Janice Joplin, Niel Diamond or the Kingston Trios blarring from his outdoor stereo system. I will miss watching him mow his lawn in the rain and riding to and from the cottage on his motorcycle with his shorts on and his white socks pulled up high. I will miss the laughter coming from his breezeway from one of the many impromptu happy hours Ray had, unbenounced to Brenda. I will miss seeing him walk down the muddy road always in his bare feet taking those short quick steps on his way to or from helping someone in need.

But mostly I will miss the “Good Morning Darrel” at 6:30 every morning as I was off for my morning fish. I would here this voice coming from places I could not see him. It was often a mystery as to where it was coming from. At times it was him working under the cottage, on his dock, under his deck or on his roof where he would be working on yet another project befoe the sun came up. I will miss him anxiously walking up the dock on my return when he would always say, “any luck”?

I will mostly miss our late night breezeway chats on Sunday nights as we joked and laughed about the weekenders leaving home to the city. He called them the tourists and he would wave goodbye as they drove down the road laughing out loud and saying, “see you next weekend”.

I will miss the Blue Bomber flag he would hang from the backyard to signal to me he was going down for his nap. This by the way, meant no power tools or visits for the next 2 hrs.

He was interesting, knowledgeable and always entertaining to talk to. He knew a little bit about everything.and loved to quote famous people. His favourite quote that often came up in our talks was, “I never met a man I didn’t like” I quote from Will Rogers. This statement was so true to his life. He treated everyone with the same respect and cared for eveyone’s well being. He hated when anyone was upset especially if it was with him . All Ray ever wanted was harmony.

If Caddy Lake had a realty show, Ray would be the star and we would have our own sitcom that would be titled …yes you guessed it, “Everybody Loves Raymando”

Yes Ray, your legacy will forever be carried in gentle Caddy Lake breeze, in the call of the loones, in the sunsets you so adored and in the dawn of everyday in which you were always up for.

THE LEGACY OF RAYMONDO THE MAGNIFICENT!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oake...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suzanne Adkins Tribute To The Younger Ray,

Like many of you, I am shocked and saddened to be here saying goodbye to

Raymond, a man who was always so full of life and energy, in fact he often

seemed unstoppable. I am grateful to Brenda who has welcomed me to share

some of my memories of Ray's younger life.

Ray burst into my life in 1962, almost 50 years ago, when we were both 18

years old. I had spent weeks getting a plum job in the Shop Easy in Falcon

Lake. On the day the store opened, a brash and loud young man walked in,

announced he was there and intended to work in the store that summer and

was prepared to start that day. He had bypassed all the hoops and hurdles and

by sheer charisma – he got the job! Ray worked in the produce department,

and with me in meats, well it was a match made in heaven. Teenagers need to

eat and we pooled our resources! Ray made a great big sign, (he had great

printing) with SUZIE'S PLACE on it and put it in the window of the trailer

where I was staying. When my father saw that he made a quick end to our

little business.

The lake was heaven to Ray. Our first date was a walk, all the way from

Falcon Lake to Caddy, with a short stop at Pixieland for a drink, and when

we got to the cottage, exhausted, he proceeded to teach me to water ski!

Ray's charm, good humour and ability to tell a story won him many friends,

and friends from High School were still close many years later. I am happy to

see some of them here today. He was a people person who energized a room

and could create a party anywhere, any time. Ray and the lake drew people. I

still marvel at the many friends who were just driving down that old highway

on a Saturday and decided to drop in. Adults and kids wound through the

tunnels, accompanied by Ray's AHH KEE AHH, cruised the lake on the

Keats or Teevens pontoons or raced around the on tubes or water skiis. Ray

relished it all.

Ray loved a bargain, and he read the classifieds every day. This habit resulted

in many dogs and cars being added to our family over the years. Ray loved

cars. Old ones, he had a 1928 and a 1929 Chev. Both ran and we took them to

the antique car club runs once or twice. He also loved a 51 Austin named

Alex, I have forgotten why!. But little sports cars were the best. He had a

convertible hard top Renault, a white three seater Datsun Fairlady, a sporty

Sunbeam Rapier bought from his friend Rod MacKenzie, and a red MBG GT.

A few attempts at larger cars included a white T bird with flaming red leather

upholstery and a sensible 4 door Volvo. The Thunderbird was a winner until

it's gas guzzling caught us in the middle of crazy corners without any. The

embarrassment was too much to bear and the car was gone within the week.

The Sunbeam Rapier was the car called on to break the speed record. How

fast could it drive between Falcon and Caddy, on the old road of course! I

could be wrong, but the time of 9 minutes comes to mind. This was done

without seat belts or helmets and defied all the laws of common sense. But

that was a side of Ray as well.

Ray was always on the move and travel, especially on a motorbike was a

favourite. We made several trips west and south to the Black Hills that bring

back some special memories. We made camp at a lovely clear lake, I believe

it was called Horse Thief Lake in the Black Hills. We had gone for a week or

so, and everything we needed was packed into two saddlebags on either side

of the bike. Well, the lake looked like a good fishing spot and Ray went to the

nearby campstore and bought some basic fishing supplies. When he returned

I gave him several cents worth of my opinion on spending money on stuff we

didn't need, because we had lots of it at home etc. Etc. I woke up the next

morning to a clear sky over a beautiful stretch of water, and the smell of

freshly caught trout frying in an old pan. He had gotten up early and made

one of my favourite treats. That's a memory I'll always treasure.

Ray had a sensitive side, he wrote poetry, loved music. Back in those days it

was Mario Lanza and The Student Prince and the LP Man From La Mancha.

The folkies of the 60's and 70's were always on the reel to reel tape recorder,

later housed in the cabinet Ray built for our living room on Clare Ave.

Clare Ave was only the first of our homes. We had four, each progressively

larger. And as our homes grew so did our family. The house on Fisher Park

was the first home to both Lesleigh and James. We planted the big evergreen

on its front lawn when Lesleigh was 2. She and the tree were the same height.

The tree now dwarfs the two story house. A symbol of life ever changing.

Ray loved the kids. We had been married for almost 7 years when Lesleigh

Rae (named for her grandfather and father) arrived, followed 5 years later by

James (named for Ray's first motorbike). I recall asking Ray to find a pink

bike for Lesleigh after she had been in a bad car accident in England. He

searched the city for days to find such a gift, but there were no pink bikes

available so he bought a yellow one - and it was the most beautiful yellow

bike ever. We treasure the pictures of Lesleigh dressed in pink on it.

Ray's skills at building and repair grew over the years, from the early

attempts at installing the furnace in the cottage, to the shower and fireplace,

to making it the beautiful lake home it is today. And he has shared these skills

with James, as he renovates his homes in Calgary.

Ray was a kind and loving man who bought happiness to many.

My husband Bill and I enjoyed the time we spent with Ray and Brenda at

James and Michelle's wedding at Caddy Lake. They both gave us a warm

welcome. Bill and I send our deepest sympathy to Brenda, Lesleigh, James

and Jennifer on the loss of their husband and father. And I thank Brenda once

again for letting me share my memories. I hope that the fun and love you

shared over the last 26 years will bring you comfort in the days to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lesleigh Remembering her Dad

Have you met my dad? Of course you had whether you knew him for a minute or a lifetime he was bound to have made an impression. It was his good nature and kind heart that drew you here. it was the way he made you feel welcome and invited. He was always the guy with the extra beer, the right tool for the job, or the advice you needed...... But he was always my dad

I wanted to have an epiphany where I stood here and relayed stories. About how he would take his grandchildren to chase black bears through the campground; tossing garbage at them just so the kids could get a better look. Driving a Honda Scooter down the Trans Canada Highway all the way to Caddy Lake. Hanging himself from the rafters when he put a nail through his hand and no one was around to help. Or how he could tell you the difference between a hawk and an eagle from over 1000 yards away by the way they flew.

I waited ............I wanted all the memories and good times to come flooding back and to be overwhelmed with stories to write about to tell you about how wonderful my dad was. But what came out wasn’t quite what I expected.

At first I thought I forgot maybe I didn’t know him as well as everyone around me proclaimed too. Why was I feeling left out of this man’s amazing and giving self, but then again he was my dad, We did not choose each other we just were. But he loved me, maybe not in the showy sense of the word He wasn’t a hugger, sometimes a hug felt painful almost too contrived. But his way was different... And it took a while for me to understand.

My dad had built a world around him, a world centered on the lake, he built a home for his family where we could come and share with him all the splendour of cottage life. But as a teenager I rebelled I could not convince him to be a part of the world I was making He would say he didn’t “do” soccer or hockey or piano recitals. I mistook his absence for disappointment. But he waited..... He didn’t push or complain..... He waited to see if our two worlds would collide, could collide. I know now how he longed to share all that he had created with us, a chance to pass on his knowledge, to show us the serenity he felt when he was at the lake, He wanted us to embrace this way of life, his way of life.

But time got in the way, when what should have been became soon... and sooner became later... and later became no more.

What I wouldn’t do for one more day, one more chance to spend time with him, where he loved to be. What I wouldn’t do to change the past to make a new present. If I got to choose my father I would choose him.

His legacy is a way of life, a peaceful tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A gift of quiet indulgence.

I love my dad more than anyone could know. And I know there is a good part of who I am because of him and I like to think there’s a part of him that was; because of me.

These are the lessons dad would pass on

He learned that a cold beer on a hot day is one of life's greatest pleasures

He learned that you should fill your life with music

He learned to be generous with himself and with his friends.

He learned to live life with optimism

He learned that if you're on this earth, you better have fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Poem, by Robbie Burns

An honest man here lies at rest,

As e'er God with his image blest.

The friend of a man, the friend of truth,

The friend of age, and guide of youth.

Few hearts like his, with virtue warmed,

Few heads with knowledge so informed.

If ther's another world, then he lives in bliss.

If there is none, then he made the best of this.

Here's a few stories that always made me laugh through the years...by son James

THE POTATO GUN

One summer at the lake, back when I was about 17 years old, I thought it

would be a great idea to make a potato gun. Now, I know many of you can

imagine where this story may end, but I'm going to tell it anyways. My Dad,

like all good Dad's, helped me in finding as many potatoes as possible to fuel

my new toy. However, after a few hours of practicing with potatoes, I

wanted to find something that I could re-use as ammunition. That's when I

stumbled across a foam ball that fit the barrel of the gun perfectly. Of

course, I wanted to show my Dad, so I went over to Oake's cabin,

proceeded to point the gun at him and say "look Dad, I have a foam ball in

there that I can re-use as ammunition." Then Bang, I shot my Dad, with the

foam ball landing directly on his forehead. The foam ball hit with such

impact that my Dad fell flat on his ass. After that he still loved me, but I was

never allowed to make another potato gun at the lake again.

THE SNOWMOBILE

I grew up with my Dad always saying that he could start the snowmobile

better than I could. One Friday night, at around 11:00, I wanted to go for a

ride around the lake. So my Dad came outside to start the snowmobile in his

housecoat. One pull, two pulls. three pulls, and it started with ease.

Unfortunately, the throttle was alos stuck and the snowmobile leaped out of

Dad's hands and quickly moved away from our reach. Dad and I stood there,

silently, as the light from the snowmobile faded into the distance until it

finally disappered into the darkness.

Dad gruffly looked over and said "well, this weekend's ruined."

I know I will miss my Dad every time I hear his unique and recognizable

laugh come from my own mouth, or when I am at the Lake, and I can't start

the boat or snowmobile as good as he could. I love you Dad; don't laugh at

me for reading a poem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jennifer's Remembrances of Ray

Everyone is going to miss him in their own different way; therefore this is just not a loss for our family but also a loss for everyone. A lot of people wished they would've seen him in the past little while, but he wanted people to know him at his best, a testament to his own personal philosophy of live life to the fullest.

I know that his friends were so important to him and he enjoyed and appreciated more than anything the time spent with them. My Dad is the happiest, most positive person in the world and I strive to be just like him. He had the best outlook on life and a perfect way of describing everything. When I had just found out that he was diagnosed with liver cancer, I asked him if he was scared and he laughed at me. He said to me, as he has said may times before in many situations, nothing lives forever. And of course, this is ture and just to make me feel a little better about things.

Another things my Dad used to always say, while we would be sitting out at the lake, Welcome to God's country. My Dad looked out over the lake for 50 years and the intense beauty never faded in his eyes. There is nothing that my Dad appreciated more than sitting, looking out onto the lake in the evening and being so thankful for everything. These are the single most important moments of my life. I will always remember this and this is how I will continue to live and love my life. I hold so close to my heart the conversations that I would have with him on life and everything important. I continue to learn from him. I believe that the best things about myself are because of him.

My Dad found happiness in making other people happy, and this is evident in his extreme kindness and willingness to help anyone and everyone. I have been looking back on all the wonderful photos of amazing things he has done and realizing the he has had a great life and enjoyed every bit of it. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every experience.

Looking at the photos, I also realize how many wonderful photos he's taken. I wish I could've know him in his younger days, he looks like quite a character and always had either a genuine smile or look of complete happiness. There is so much about his life that I don't know, so many good times, so many different experiences. I wish I knew them all. I saw a picture of my Dad at the cottage with his dad in 1955; he was 12 years old, that is so amazing. I am now wishing more than anything that I could ask him more than anything that I could ask him more questions about who he is, but I guess that's how life works.

I will always remember him whistling and knowing right away it was him. I will remeber his laugh and his voice. Remember him playing the harmonica. Remember how he would always put music on for other people, something they would like. And he would play great songs over and over. He always loved how music told stories. These are some of the very fond memories that I have, I wish I could rememberthem all and document it, and it makes me sad that things may fade. But I believe that his soul and core values are deeply rooted in me, so I will always have that. I take a lot from my Dad's life and so thankful for everything he has given me. I take back from him this incredible knowledge and sense of adventure. I will definitely at some point canoe the Hudson Bay and it's so inspiring to know about all the adventures that he went on. Again, I want to be just like him. He taught me to appreciate the beauty in life. Him being sick was only a very small fraction of his life and completely insignificant as right now he is in a much better place, at the lake with all his friends.