Obituary of Kelvin Smith

Kelvin will be sadly missed by his loving wife Shaunda Smith; children: Carissa Smith, Geoff and Tobi Smith; grandmother: Ella Elliott; parents: Ken and Kay Smith; siblings: Kathy and Laurie Smitzniuk, Kim and Mike Rey, Kevin and Monica Smith; father & mother-in-law: Cliff and Gloria Sholdice; brothers and sisters-in-law: Teressa and Jason Krueckl, Ken and Patsy Sholdice, Trevor and Liza Sholdice as well as many nieces, nephews, other family and friends. EULOGY June 24, 1958 the world was blessed with the arrival of Kelvin William Smith. It would be 23 years later when my family would have Kelvin enter our lives and things would never be the same. My sister Shaunda met Kel at a party in the fall of 1981, and the next day, unknown to my parents Kelvin moved in. Shaunda said she knew from the moment she saw Kelvin that they would marry, and so they did April 10, 1982. It turned out to be a busy year for the pair as on September 2, 1982 they welcomed a large surprise, not one baby but two, twins Carissa and Geoffrey. Carissa and Geoffrey were the pride of Kel's life. Never was there a father more loving or caring. The twins had been home only 3 nights and Shaunda and Kelvin were exhausted. As Kelvin proceeded to change a diaper he was worried Geoffrey would roll over so he stuck the diaper pins into his bed, Kelvin had forgotten they owned a waterbed, and they were so tired they just crawled in and went to sleep and by morning the liner was full of water. Cleaning up after the kids was a busy job and Kelvin would suck up so much food with the vacuum in the high chair years that every 6 months he would have to go see the Electrolux man to have the hose replaced due to build up. I was about 10 when the twins were born and I spent many days with Kelvin growing up. One night I had been over and Shaunda and I were in her bed sleeping, when Kelvin came home from some fun. He crawled into bed with us which seemed simple enough. When I told Shaunda she simply told me to let him sleep, but I then proceeded to tell her he was naked and needless to say that didn't last long. Kelvin's first Christmas with our family was very fulfilling or maybe just filling. With a shortage of matching plates my mom decided to give Kel the turkey platter. It was about twice the size of the normal plates but Kelvin didn't notice and started dishing up and proceeded to eat. When Kelvin finally managed to cleaned his plate the laughter began as he was told the truth. Kelvin said he had wondered if he'd ever reach the bottom of the plate. After years of Kraft dinner and wieners, Shaunda and Kelvin eventually bought their first home, a mobile home when the twins were 3. The trailer had a wood stove which one day Kelvin lit and after some time left to go out. When they all came home they found all their candles bent over from the heat, it was amazing he hadn't ended up burning the place down. It was during these years that Kelvin worked construction with my brother Ken. Ken says if there was anything Kel knew needed done he got straight to work and got it done. It must have been difficult constantly saving his brother in law from falling off the roof, getting hit in the head or nearly electrocuting himself. Guess you say Kelvin was the first aid guy too. In 1988 Kelvin had helped my parents move to Lloydminster. 2 days after leaving Shaunda received a call to sell everything, pack up as he had gotten a job with Nelson Lumber. And so a new chapter in his life would begin. Life was full for Kel and Shaunda raising their kids. Kids were always at the house it seemed. They chaperoned dances, went on band trips, took the kids white water rafting and the list just goes on. Kelvin coached the kids through soccer and attended any other game played outside of soccer. Geoff even tells me he took him and his punk rock bank to a concert so they could do a gig. Kel waited in the van as the kids partied and drove them all home with a few pit stops .Kelvin loved Geoff's music and all he aspired to be. I found out only last night that Kelvin wrote music himself in his teens which explained so clearly why he has always told Geoff to do what he loved. He was a true dad to all kids who came into his life and always held those times dear to his heart. Kelvin's warm heart shone through again as he spent many days reading to my grandma Sholdice in the Dr, Cooke. After my grandma passed away Kelvin would continue to visit her roommate Nora to read to her as she loved it so much. It was a true reflection of the generosity Kelvin so often showed. May long weekend was a men's getaway tradition for years with the men in my family. The trip began every year with Kel showing up not pleased that Shaunda had packed only one case of beer. Once on the road Kelvin would soon hear Trevor saying don't worry Kel I have 60, Jason would say don't worry I have a couple crocks of whisky, Ken would okay a stop at Tait's Liquor store and Cliff well his supply seemed endless. Kel would never go thirsty, and even admitted one year he had found his capacity. Although Kelvin wasn't into the fishing he loved the time with the guys. Kelvin quickly found his duty as the tie up guy. He would un-tie the boat and set the guys off and be there to tie the boat up at the end of the day. My brother would say Kelvin knew the whole campground by the time he left, even the store worker. Guess he found ways to fill the fishing time. By the end of the night everyone would be exhausted from strictly the outdoors of course and once Kelvin finally laid down, the snoring would begin. My brother Trevor learned quickly to pack extra rolled socks as he would chuck them at Kelvin swearing as the howling began. Kelvin was rarely affected and the next morning Trev would pick them all up and get ready for the next night. Camping seemed to always bring our families together. One year while visiting around our campsite a domestic argument broke out just sites away. Kelvin, my husband and brother Ken crawled in to watch, hid under the spruce trees and seemed to develop their own communication system. I'm still not particularly sure was kaw-kaw meant but they knew. Recently we were at Sask Landing and Kelvin had not been feeling well. Tucking Kelvin in had fallen through the cracks on our last night and Shaunda had went to bed in the tent. We all sat around visiting and thinking of ways to prank Shaunda when she came out, drove to the bathroom and on her return drove by our fire where we were all sitting. The brakes went on and Shaunda backed up, parked and out she came. We thought for sure we'd all be in trouble so my brother stood in front of Kelvin to hide him. When Shaunda asked if he had gone to bed we said yes. She was pleased, drove back to her tent and boy did we all laugh. We were a bunch of grown kids thinking we had hid Kelvin, I think she knew, as he went to bed shortly thereafter I think he knew she meant bedtime. He was such a family guy. Kelvin loved his trips to Brandon to visit his family. We often talked about how he wished you all were closer. He thought of you often. Kelvin had another family, his Nelson Family. Kelvin never wanted anyone there to really know how sick he was as his job was often the only normalcy he felt he still had. I thank you for the friendships and the support so many of you gave him. Kelvin was a great listener. Many nights he had random drop in visits with my parents. Dad would yell at the hockey game and Kelvin would agree whether he agreed or not. They shared the love of beer and that was the glue of any differences in trades, plays or teams for them. He loved them both dearly as they did him. Kelvin was an incredible uncle. He attended anything he could for his nieces and nephews. He travelled to Calgary for every birthday of our 6 year old niece Aimee. It was on one trip Trevor and Kelvin went out back and shot balloons with the pellet gun. Kel was quick to return buy himself one as he was sure it would be great for all the crows in his backyard. He was so proud of all of you near or far of where you lives had taken you. Kelvin loved to travel, he often talked about Vegas with his family and Darrin and Linda and of course the Dominican and Mexico. Mexico with Neil and Lynn was never far from this thoughts. It was a piece of paradise where he could breathe well and laugh with his dear friends. Kelvin had so many names with his girls, Uncle Kelvi, pooper scooper, sweet pie and kelllviin! I laugh cause with every trip for errands he made new friendships. Kelvin was never selfish buying little tokens of his love for us all here of there. Once he called me over, sat me down and told me they were moving away, I sat so quietly. He then handed me a card and I proceeded to start crying he laughed, actually very insensitive. Turns out Kelvin had spent his whole bonus buying us all something that year, he was just so kind hearted. He was such a romantic buying Shaunda small gifts, leaving candies on her bed and Shaunda will say his cards were always so sappy. Kel's puppies were his life. He would come home every day to feed and love his dogs. If he had to go away he'd always text me to clear dates for my help. I'd tell him it would cost him a night with my Ella, he'd say ha, ha okay deal. Losing their first dog Joey was hard for Kel but he filled many nights snuggling Bailey, Pacey and Rusty. Kelvin was diagnosed in 1999 with silicosis and fought silently often never wanting pity or attention. He chose to live life to the fullest each day, his way. I'd like to read a poem… To a beautiful life Comes a sudden end. He died, as he lived, Everyone's friend. He was always thoughtful Loving and kind What precious memories He left behind. He left us so suddenly His thoughts unknown But he left us his memories We are proud to own. Treasure him God in your Garden of rest. For in our world, He was one of the best. Kelvin I thank you for the love and happiness you gave my sister and the values you instilled in Geoff and Carissa. I thank you for the laughter, the texts joking on what I was wearing, the talks and the lesson to not worry and be happy. For allowing my family to be part of you and all that you were. Breathe easy my friend, we love you! Donations in memory of Kelvin may be made to the Alberta Lung Association.