George LEARMONTH

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LEARMONTH: George Edward, beloved husband of the Late Ellen Marie, dear father of Anthony (Christine), and the Late Linda and her husband, Ed Koshowski, loved Grandpa to Carolyn (Mo) and Ross also grandfather of Andrew (Tracy) Riegel and great grandfather of Ashleigh and Connor, passed away peacefully at the Assiniboine Centre, on Friday, August 6, 2010. George was born on July 10, 1925, at the Brandon General Hospital, to Scottish immigrants, Tony and Bella Learmonth. When he was three days old, he was brought home to the farm north-west of Brandon. He attended Hunter School, and after grade seven, he began working on the farm with his father. The family owned and showed Clydesdale horses for many years, and George, at the age of eight, began showing his own horse and winning many ribbons. In June, 1949, George married Ellen Marie Jackson, a young teacher whom he met at a dance. They purchased the Art Hunter farm across the road from where George grew up. This was to become his home for the next 61 years. George continued to farm with his father and then with Anthony until his health deteriorated and he was forced to retire in 2001. George had purchased two Clydesdale mares which he bred. He was thrilled when two colts were born. Again, George became involved in showing horses as he and his daughter, Linda, travelled to fairs and horse shows all over Manitoba. George’s love of heavy horses continued when he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Provincial Exhibition, becoming the Chairman of the Heavy Horse Committee and the Ringmaster at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair for many years. In 1987, George’s life changed when Linda was diagnosed with cancer. Over the next eight years, until her death, he and Ellen spent their time taking care of, and supporting their daughter in every way possible. Another love was his flower gardens where George spent many hours planting, weeding and trimming. The “horse bug” came from his father and the “gardening bug” came from his mother. Another change came when Ellen, the “love of his life” predeceased him in June, 2006. In May, 2010, after spending almost 85 years on the farm, George moved into a suite in Brandon, to be closer to his doctor, and the medical facilities on which he had become dependant. Over the past six months, the care and comfort George received from Dr N. Butler and the nurses who cared for him in the Palliative Care Unit have been so much appreciated. As well as his immediate family, George is survived by his brother-in-law, Robert (Cory) Jackson and their family, several other nieces and nephews, other extended family and many good friends. He was also predeceased by his parents and his sister, Dorothy and her husband, Bill Eyre, Winnipeg. A private family service was held at the Brandon Cemetery on Monday, August 16, 2010 when George’s cremated remains were interred beside his beloved Ellen. If friends desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, #3, 824-18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 5B7. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre.

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 21, 2010