MILTON ALEXANDER AWREY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MILTON ALEXANDER AWREY Pitcher - Myrtle MB On March 1, 2012 Uncle Milt passed peacefully following complications from hip replacement surgery. Milt was the fifth child of Salem and Mame Awrey (nee Phillips), born November 16, 1915 in Myrtle MB. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Barbara (nee Mitchell). He was predeceased by an infant son in 1950, and all his brothers, Bert, Lin, and Mel, and sisters Margaret See and Bernice Stewart. Milt has a large extended family through the massive Phillips clan on his Mother's side. Milt is a direct descendant of Nicholas Awrey who immigrated to Canada in 1753 as Nicholas Aurient. Nicholas was renamed Awrey by the German lady that raised him following his mother's death on the voyage from Ireland. We are told that everyone in North America bearing the name Awrey is related. Milt met Barbara on the school van on his first day of school and they became sweet hearts forever. One day at school a teenage Milt put his arm around Barbara's shoulder in the school yard. The result was them both being called separately to the principal's office to be scolded about being too familiar with the opposite sex. They were married February 7, 1942. Milt volunteered for the RCAF during the Second World War and became an aircraft mechanic. He was stationed around Manitoba and then after marriage to Barbara in St. Thomas, ON and St. Jean, PQ. Milt often explained the simplicity of quality control in those days: the mechanic flew on every post repair test flight. After peace was declared, Milt and Barbara returned to Myrtle to take over Barbara's parents' farm. Milt farmed in the area until 1979, while Barbara taught piano lessons to children. After selling the farm they moved to Winnipeg to be closer to Barbara's family. For a few years they were care takers of apartment blocks before finally retiring. They were very proud to live independently in their own condo until October 2011. Milt did all the grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking and caring for Barbara, driving his new car until October. Milt always was involved in many sports during his lifetime and was always very active physically, even into old age. During Milt's teens and 20s he was known far and wide as a fearsome pitcher with a lightning fastball and almost unhittable curve ball. He was often paid to pitch for a sizable fee, room and board, plus percentage of team winnings. Pre-Second World War he played for the Myrtle Tuxis team and many others around Manitoba and in Sudbury Ont. During the Second World War he pitched for armed forces teams. After the Second World War he pitched for community teams at field days until he was well into his 50s. Milt and Barbara had a wonderful long life together often taking long motoring vacations throughout Canada and to Alaska as well as spending a few winters in Texas. Right to the end they were deeply in love, always greeting and parting with a long kiss on the lips. Even the day he left the condo by ambulance on a stretcher, Milt got a goodbye kiss on the lips. It's sad to see such a great love story end, but thankfully they weren't apart for long. With both their passings, Milt and Barbara are bequeathing several hundred thousand dollars to The Winnipeg Foundation to establish a fund to assist financially challenged youth to participate in minor sports. At request there will be no service except for interment of both their ashes at the Myrtle Cemetery, at a later date. The past seven months have been a saga of medical events and changing care needs for this wonderful couple who declined from 100% independence very rapidly. On the way we interacted with some wonderfully caring and compassionate health care professionals who helped immensely and in some cases even took personal ownership when needed. We extend many thanks to the Victoria 5th floor team, Riverview Geriatric Rehab Team, Concordia 2 west staff, Concordia Chaplin Services and Poseidon nursing home 5th floor nursing and support staff. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenlawn.ca. Glen Lawn Funeral Home 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 10, 2012