Graham ELLIOTT

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ELLIOTT: Graham George Elliott, November 22, 1947- December 24, 2014. With profound sadness we announce that “Big Daddy” Graham, beloved father, grandfather, and friend to all passed away unexpectedly on December 24, 2014 at the Brandon General Hospital surrounded by his loved ones. Graham will always be remembered as a kind gentleman who would lend a helping hand to anyone in need, and with a great sense of humor that could light up a room and brighten anyone’s day. Graham was born 67 years ago in Souris, Manitoba. He spent most of his early years helping out on the family farm and attending school in the Pipestone, Manitoba area. After attending the Reston Collegiate for a couple of years, his yearn to pursue his dreams and travel called. He packed his bags and set off to Thompson, Manitoba where he started his mining career. Continuing in this career, he moved out west to Kimberley, British Columbia, where he had lived and worked happily for a couple of years and decided to start a family. It was there in Kimberly, British Columbia in the early 1970’s that Graham wed his hometown sweetheart Diane Fosty, and where they would have their first child, Douglas. After Doug was born Graham thought it would be better to move his family back home to Manitoba. On his journey back home he picked up a few odd jobs along the way and resided in Killarney, Manitoba where their second child, Timothy was born. Shortly after Tim’s birth, they had moved and settled in Brandon, Manitoba where Graham took a job at Overland Construction. After working there for a couple of years, Graham realized that is was not the right job for him, so he left in a pursuit of something more. This pursuit led him to the Brandon School Division in the maintenance division and relief bus drives, where he worked for 22 years. Graham retired from the Brandon School Division in 2002 to lead the life of leisure on the Glen Lea Golf Course where if he wasn’t golfing, he was marshalling. Although he was an avid golfer, he also enjoyed playing cribbage with his best pals, shooting pool at the Legion where he was a member for 20 years, reading a good Louis L’amour, watching an old western, or traveling to Calgary. His fulfillment was still not met so he returned to the Brandon School Division where he was happy to be back driving school bus fulltime for all the kids, which he loved handing out candy canes to everyone at Christmas. It was during this return to driving that he adopted the nickname “Gram Cracker” from the children on his bus routes. Graham was survived by his sons Douglas (Joclyn) and grandson Tallen. Timothy and granddaughter Maizy, his brothers Bob (Fae) and Keith (Janice) and sisters Olive Ann (Larry) Wallace. Graham was predeceased by his parents Douglas and Katherine Elliott and sister Arlene Elliott. Although there has been a beautiful public service for Graham already the family would like to give a sincere thank you to everyone for their support, and kind words during this tremendously difficult time. Also, a very special thank you to whomever it was that handed out Graham’s candy canes, Graham is most definitely smiling down on you and all of us that loved him so much from heaven. There will be a private service for the family in Pipestone, Manitoba in July 2015.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 17, 2015