Gordon SPEERS

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SPEERS: Gordon passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, after a four year battle with pancreatic cancer. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Marion, son, Randy (Shannon Glasheen) of Nakusp, BC, daughter, Michelle, and granddaughter, Melissa, of Alexander. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Joyce and Margaret, brothers in-law, Bill (Debbie) Humphreys, Harold (Mable) Humphreys, and their families as well as his Aunt Winelda Curtis and many cousins. Gordon was born May 11, 1938, on the family farm to Ethel (Curtis) and Thomas “Scot” Speers of Alexander and was the eldest of three brothers. He attended school in Alexander. In 1957 he purchased the half-section (NE 25-10-22W) just to the south of the home farm where he farmed with his father and brother, Ralph. He also did seasonal work with Manitoba Hydro until 1972 when the Alexander District was amalgamated with Brandon. He then began working full time as a groundman and later as a machine operator until his retirement in 1996. On August 7, 1965, he married Marion Humphreys and they resided in Alexander for ten years before they had a house built and moved to a wheat field on their farm. Gordon played a variety of sports. For many years he played ball and curled. Later he took up snowmobiling, golfing and downhill skiing. He began hunting and fishing early in his teens and they continued to be his favourite sports throughout his life. Gordon enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and friends participating in whatever sport was in season. Gordon served as a councillor for Ward 6 in the RM of Whitehead from 1998-2002. In 2006 he joined the Whitehead Fire Department as a pump operator until ill health forced him to retire in 2011. Gordon’s idea of a good time was to tour around the countryside never more than a few miles from home. Although, when the family was young they enjoyed many camping trips as well as going to Disneyworld, Disneyland, Expo and ski trips to the mountains. In 1990 Gordon and Marion travelled to Australia to visit Marion’s relatives and while there they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. He was so pleased to be able to host a party for all his close friends and family this past August to celebrate his and Marion’s 50th anniversary. Gordon loved life and lived it to the fullest. Gordon was pre-deceased by his parents, Scot in 1986 and Ethel in 2003, his brother, Ralph, in 2010, brother, Dan, in 2015, and nephew, Todd Humphreys, in 2009. The service to celebrate Gordon’s life will be held at Central United Church 327-8th Street on Saturday, October 24, 2015, (TODAY) at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Harvey Hurren officiating. Interment will follow at Alexander Cemetery at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gordon may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation – Cancer Services, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 24, 2015