Obituary of Lyle Priest

Lyle Hubert Priest was born in Lloydminster, September 4, 1937. He was the eldest son of John and Julie Priest. On May 25, Lyle passed away peacefully in the Lloydminster Hospital with his loving wife by his side. Lyle is survived by his wife Rosemarie and her family; son, Bob and his wife Janie, son, John and his wife Amanda and their three sons; brothers, Earl and Marg, Vernon and Lynn and Don and Gloria along with numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Lyle was predeceased by his Dad in 1995 and his Mom in 2009. The memorial service for Lyle was held on May 27, at the Riverview Community Church in Frenchman Butte with Pastor Harvey Penner officiating. Music was supplied by the Frenchman Butte Community Church Music Group. The urn bearer was nephew, Daron Priest and the honorary pallbearers were all of Lyle’s friends. Interment was at the Albion Cemetery. Lyle attended Tangleflags School and went on to farm with his Dad and brothers for many years. In 1975 Lyle started a trucking business known as LBJ Trucking, hauling grain and cattle. Later he purchased a bale hauling trailer. Failing health forced Lyle to give up trucking, but he continued to manage the bale hauling business up until 2009. Lyle lived in the North Bend district up until ten years ago when he moved to Silver Willow Estates north of Lloydminster. In 2002, Lyle married Rosemarie who has been the love of his life and soul mate for the past eight years. Lyle enjoyed farm life and was always interested in the machinery part of farming. Other passions were visiting with family and friends, gardening, and in particular growing tomatoes, fishing (which he continued to do with his brother-in-law, Bill) up until recently, buying and selling vehicles, sitting down to a good meal, and his pets. Tributes were given by Nephew Daron Priest, and Nieces, Colleen Symes and Jewell Robson, along with a close friend of Lyle’s, Doug Eaton. Uncle Lyle was ‘A big man with a big heart’. Everyone has a Lyle story. I will share a few of mine. Something that was near and dear to Lyle’s heart was food. He loved to eat. It was a good combination, Lyle’s love of food, and Granny’s good cooking. Granny talked about making lunches for Lyle when he was trucking and by the time he got out of the driveway he had one hand in his lunch box and one hand on the wheel. I remember, sitting down to one of Granny’s roast beef dinners when Lyle still lived at home. After dinner Lyle enjoyed 15 minutes, stretched out on his bed. Young and mischievous, the nieces and nephews thought it would be fun to interrupt this ritual. As he snored away we threw the football at Uncle Lyle’s belly. He jumped to life but soon was back into his deep chain saw rythym. After about the third time he grabbed the football and sprinted outside throwing the ball deep in the bushes. It wasn’t five minutes later, he was out their helping us look for it. At another meal time, in the field at harvest time, we were combining near the river where the land slopes towards the river. We were startled to see Lyle’s combine rolling backwards, slowly picking up speed. It came to rest over a bank just shy of the river perched like the space shuttle ready to launch. There was a lot of tension wondering how Lyle would react. Heads down continuing to eat, I looked up and saw Ray Reiber had tears of laughter running from his eyes. The tension was broken and everyone roared. Lyle, being a good sport, even mustered a smile. Lyle loved to deal. He’d tell people right where he stood. In one of his vehicle deals in Edmonton trading his Yukon for a new truck, he was angered by making no headway on a deal so he went across the street to another dealership. He said “I’ll give you what you want on one condition, that you park my trade in the front row and show that so and so next door what he missed out on.” Knowing Uncle Lyle’s expertise I looked to him when buying my first truck. We were in Cold Lake and Lyle was out like a light after just finishing a big smorg. I was driving not knowing where to go so I asked out loud, ‘Where do I turn?’ Lyle’s amazing sixth sense kicked in and not missing a beat he replied ‘Turn left at the next set of lights’ and continued snoring. He even amazed me in his retirement how sharp he was. He stayed on top of the markets. I valued his advice and his driving tips. One that stuck with me was when driving in the fog always stay close to the center line you never know what might be parked on the side of the road. The way I drive I could use a few more of them. Lyle should be smiling today, looking down at the legacy he has left. Our family gatherings won’t be the same without him to entertain us. He loved to tease, and he loved the kids. We’ll miss you Uncle Lyle. Daron When Uncle Lyle lived at Granny and Grandad’s in the early 70's he got to spend more time than he likely wanted to with the nieces and nephews. We treated his bedroom like a play palace and used his bed as a trampoline. One day when we were bouncing on the bed one of his guns bounced off the gun rack and shot a hole in the wall of his bedroom. Needless to say we didn’t play in his bedroom after that. I remember when Karen and I were in high school and we decided to go tricking at Uncle Lyle’s place on Halloween. He heard us coming so he stepped out on the step and fired a number of shots in the air. We got out of there in a hurry. Uncle Lyle treated me to the Canadian version of Grumpy Old men when he took me ice fishing with himself and Graham MacDonald. Both being a bit deaf it was What? Huh! all the way there. He told me I didn’t need a fishing licence but I was sure I was going to get a ticket just as I dropped the fishing line into the hole for the first time. A white truck drove up and I thought I was in trouble. Lyle egged me on to think it was the conservation officer. I was relieved when Ernold Priest stepped out of the truck. In the days before Lyle married Auntie Rosemarie, you’d never know what you’d come across when you visited him. After knocking on his door he would holler, come in. You’d walk in and find him sitting at his kitchen table wearing only his undershorts. Those visits were usually very short. Uncle Lyle’s home was always open to host our annual Priest Christmas party. It would include Chinese food, lots of desserts and games of 21. The nieces and nephews got to play with his cats that were almost bigger than dogs. We have many wonderful memories of Uncle Lyle and he was truly one of a kind. He will be greatly missed. Colleen Lyle’s cats were ‘his boys’. He called them each by name as he greeted them in the morning and bid them good night. He had a close bond with them. Karen remembers her first paying job was cleaning out Uncle Lyle’s cattle liner. The nieces and nephews frequently got that not so pleasant job. One day in Lloydminster, Karen came out of the hairdressers with a not so natural hair color. Uncle Lyle was prompted by Auntie Rosemarie that it was Karen, and he responded with a chuckle, ‘Oh hi, Susie’. He always referred to her as Susie. Uncle Earl, Uncle Vernon and my Dad remember after a night out on the town Uncle Lyle drove his car onto the woodpile. He fell asleep and the next morning they found him in the car with the wheels still spinning. Uncle Vernon remembers the ‘choice compliments’ he got when Uncle Lyle drove his new Massey 510 combine into the ‘beaver piles’ of canola that he had swathed. What a lot of wonderful memories we have. We’ll miss you Uncle Lyle. Jewell I first met Lyle in Lloydminster when he was about 16 years old. I was struck by his country-boy look as he wore his big heavy work boots and his pants much too short. From that day on our friendship grew. Lyle had a big gruff style manner but we always knew he had a soft heart. Who else would cut a hole in the wall of his new home just to make a door for his cats to come in and out of. I have many fond memories of times Lyle and I spent together. I will miss him. Doug CARD OF THANKS Perhaps you sent a lovely card Or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a funeral spray, If so we saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words As any friend could say; Perhaps you were not there at all, Just thought of us that day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, We thank you so much whatever the part. Lyle’s family would like to thank friends and neighbours for all your kind support at this time of loss. Thanks to all the doctors, and hospital staff for their capable and compassionate care. Special thanks to the staff at Vital Aire for their many years of support. We extend our appreciation also to Pastor Penner and the music group at Riverview Community Church for the beautiful service. Also, thanks to the Frenchman Butte Legion and all the people responsible for providing the wonderful lunch. Sincere thanks to Dave McCaw and his staff for administering the funeral arrangements. Sincerely, Rosemarie and family and all the Priest families. Donations may be made to a charity of the donors choice.