Obituary of Melvin Hall

B I O G R A P H Y HALL: Melvin Charles Hall passed away in the University of Saskatchewan Hospital on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at the age of 59 years. Mel is survived by: his loving wife Autumn of Lashburn; four children: Tracy and her husband Ron Anderson of Lloydminster; Lisa and her husband Marc Lemoine of Westlock; Craig and his wife Leesa Hall of Lashburn and Clinton Hall of Sexsmith; seven grandchildren; his mother Helen Wilson of Lashburn as well as two sisters and two brothers. The memorial service for Mel was conducted from the Lashburn Community Hall on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Terry Wiebe officiating. A eulogy was given by Ron Bexfield. Hymns sung were “Bringing In The Sheaves,” and “Amazing Grace,” accompanied on the organ by Eileen Evans. Honorary pallbearers were: Howard Parkyn, Dan McKenzie, Harry Kerr, David Kerr, Rupert Tarleton and Tim Stang. The urn bearers were Melvin Craig Hall and Clinton Tyrone Hall. A private family interment was held in the Lashburn Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy of Melvin Charles Hall Written by Ron Bexfield I am very honored to be asked to give the eulogy for a great friend. Melvin Charles Hall was born July 16th, 1946. He was the fourth member in a family of five for Jack and Helen Hall. Melvin grew up in a very tight-knit, loving family. He always had great admiration for his parents and his brothers and sisters ... Roger, Joyce, Alan and Rhonda. I feel very fortunate to have grown up so close to my cousins. Mel and Alan were like brothers to me. We all attended Tyrone School. I rode horseback to school and stabled my pony un Uncle Jack’s warm barn. We would all walk to school, which was only 200 yards down the road. Melvin was an ambitious little fellow, he took on the job of delivering drinking water to the school and hauled a small cream can in his little red wagon. We all have many wonderful memories of school days at Tyrone. In the mid-fifties a 4-H Beef Club was formed at Lashburn and Jack Hall became their 1st leader. This was the beginning of learning and enjoying the activities of 4-H for the whole family. Mel got a lot out of 4-H as a member; and then even more when his own family were old enough to join; helping them with their projects and then becoming leader of the club himself. Around the same time, Little League Baseball started in Lashburn. At first they played in local leagues but soon they entered Provincial Playoffs. Mel and Alan both played on those teams and eventually they went on to win 4 consecutive Provincial Championships. The Hall family enjoyed many trips to ball games on diamonds all across Saskatchewan. Note of interest from my scrapbook. A picture and write up in the Lashburn Comet about Lashburn winning it’s first Little League Championship of Saskatchewan. The date was Thurs., Sept. 20th, 1956; 49 years ago today. Alan is standing in the back row of the picture and Melvin is kneeling in the front. The playoff had been on the previous Sunday afternoon with and estimated crowd of 650 people at the Lashburn sports grounds. Baseball then was a whole summer activity, no wonder we loved it. Tyrone School closed in the spring of 1958. Melvin had just completed his grade 6. That fall, the new teenager began junior high in Lashburn. Now, he had a better opportunity to meet some of the girls who had been cheering for him out at the ballpark. He became quite interested in a lively, fun-loving girl from north of town by the name of Autumn Richardson. Their romance blossomed through school. Autumn being a year older, graduated first, went to Reeves Business College in the fall and later got a job with CKSA; eventually moving on to CFRN in Edmonton the next year. Mel graduated in 1964 and in the fall enrolled in an Agricultural Mechanics course in Calgary. After high school, distance separated them, but the candle was still burning. Mel had decided he wanted to farm with his Dad. After returning home in the spring he bought a half section of land from Rich Paling, one mile north of the Battle River in the Tyrone district. The next spring, in April 1966, Mel and Autumn were married on a somewhat cool, windy day. I remember decorating the cars in the shelter of the big evergreens at Hall’s and how the wind blew the girls dresses when they came out of the church. Mel and Autumn moved into their cozy little Paling house on their farm. That fall they moved back to Calgary for Mel’s last year at SAIT. He had a busy winter, after school he worked for Barry Chapman in his service station to make ends meet. Then next spring they moved back into their little home on the farm to stay. Mel’s pride began to build in July of 1967 when Tracy was born and in May of 1969 with the arrival of Lisa. The little house was getting cozy so Mel decided to move the other little house in the yard, “Annabelle’s bedroom” and joined it on as a living room. Many wonderful memories were attached to this little house. However in 1974, the year Craig was born, they started building the new house they had dreamed about. Clinton was born in August of 1978 to complete their perfect family of 2 girls and 2 boys. After Tyrone School was closed, the fond memories of country school activities were strong in the hearts of Mel and others. So a Tyrone Community Club was established in 1980. Its varied functions have been immensely enjoyed by all who have attended especially the kids. To highlight just one event is unfair, but I think we will all remember our hosts on our first threshing day in 1981 and what an enjoyable time we had, thanks to Mel and Autumn. Mel was always at the center of all the club’s activities with all the members of his family enjoying them to the fullest. That same spirit drew him to the Lashburn Kinsmen Club. Mel was a dedicated Kinsmen; a tireless worker at work bees and rarely missed a meeting unless he had a curling game on at the same time. That brings me to one of his greatest passions “Curling.” Uncle Jack got them all started at an early age. Mel really caught the bug and loved nothing better than a close curling game. His favorite quote just before he got down to make a difficult shot in a tight game was “The world hates a coward.” He spent countless hours with-in the friendly walls of that old curling rink making ice year after year, planning draws and curling games not to mention the many bonspiels all over the area. With all the curling Mel did, probably some of the most enjoyable for him was when the whole family including the grandkids, would all go into town on Boxing day and have a fun game of curling. He also had several enjoyable experiences attending the Brier, watching and working as a volunteer. He loved the opportunities to meet the Pat Ryan’s and the Russ Howard’s later in the Brier Patch. Mel was an avid curler and a great sport. Mel loved his farm and his livestock. He took great pride in the “Outstanding Young Farmer” award he was presented with by the Lloydminster Jay-cees in 1981. I’ve worked with Mel a lot over the years and learned a great deal from him. His special way with handling cattle; how he could walk in to a corral full of critters and sort out the ones he wanted in no time at all, never moving fast, but quietly and very methodically. The family were often called on for help, either with the cattle or at harvest time. Mel always had a way of making these tasks fun. A recent job the kids remembered was two springs ago. After the dry years, Mel had a lot of trouble with the cattle crossing the river so he decided to fence it off. He invited all the family to help, on weekends or whenever they were free. They all had so much fun doing it, that when they were finished, the grandkids were sad because the job was done. The kids mentioned who their Dad had a great sense of humor for anything that might go wrong with inexperienced help. Like the dent the reel got while swathing, he said, “You’ve got to watch those power poles, they will jump out and get you.” Mel was the most positive and patient person and never complained about anything in his life. A favorite job was going down to the river to check the cattle. In early years it was on horseback, but later, when he got his first quad, he really enjoyed that mode of travel. Soon he got a second one for Autumn and together they enjoyed countless hours of quadding at home, at the lake and especially mountain trails with Elmer and Gloria. “The Chief” to us, who knew him fondly, loved the outdoors; he enjoyed hunting, fishing and canoeing immensely. When school canoe trips on the Churchhill needed extra chaperones, Mel was always willing to go. I think he made the trip with each of his kids; loved how you got to know them all; and enjoyed the fishing as well. Many of us here have had the pleasure of hunting or fishing with Mel over the years and the memories will keep flooding back. To touch but a few: his first big bull moose at Fishing Lake, Cel’s big white tail south of Waseca, the mule deer at Eston, chicken at Lancer, pickerel on the Churchhill, Elk in the Cypress Hills and the many deer and game bird hunts at home. In recent years those hunting trips have always included his own family members and they will all cherish those memories forever. Mel taught us all so much about life; foremost his love and pride for Autumn, his four children, their spouses and his seven grandchildren; he cherished and spent quality time with each and everyone of you. Little things were important: to teach his grandkids how to feed a horse...never being late for dinner...honesty...laughing lots...spending Sunday afternoons at the river...quadding, skidooing and swimming...to him it was important to be active...his pride in his heritage and being from Lashburn...his farm and as well his friends and neighbors. Mel had an infectious smile. It’s tough to keep a smile on at times like this...remember the good times with fun and laughter and be proud...He is. September 20th, 2005. Card of Thanks We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the neighbors, friends and family that have and continue to offer such support and comfort through a very difficult time. We are very grateful for all of you and we shall never forget. Autumn & Family Donations in memory of Melvin may be made to the Lashburn Curling Club.