Obituary of Lloyd Gawley

Lloyd James Gawley passed away peacefully at the Jubilee Home, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Sunday December 27, 2009 at the age of 95 years. Lloyd will be sadly missed by his three daughters: Elaine and Claude Adams of Salmon Arm, B.C., Barb and Jack Lennon of Laurier Lake, Donna and Clare Isert of Edmonton: nine grandchildren: ten great grandchildren: one sister Joan Kinshella of Edmonton as well as numerous other relatives. Lloyd was predeceased by his wife Pat in April 2005. The funeral service was conducted from the Marwayne School Gymnasium on Thursday December 31, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Bob Aldrich officiating. The eulogy was read by Don and Lois Cole, tributes were given by Dale George with the Tulliby Lake Stockman's Association and Lanni Bristow with the Lea Park Sales Association. Many of the stories in the eulogy and tributes were given with love and respect for Lloyd. He was truly remembered with humour and it was a real celebration of his life. The solo was "Amazing Grace" sung by Yvette Barnett. The hymn sung was "The Old Rugged Cross" accompanied on the organ by Barbara Brind. The active pallbearers were Rodney Carson, Doug Bullock, Daryl Bullock, Rick miller, Barry Carlson and Marvin Killam. Card of thanks: The Gawley family would like to thank the staff at Jubilee Home, Penny Ford for going the extra mile, the Tulliby Lake Stockman's Association for lunch, and Yvette Barnett for singing from her soul. A special thank you to granddaughter Terry Mah and great granddaughter Jadine for their love and care of their grandfather. Interment was held in the Marwayne Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Services Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Donations in memory of Lloyd may be made to the charity of the donors choice. EULOGY Don and I feel very honored to be giving the Eulogy for a man we loved and admired, so we are here today celebrating the life of Lloyd Gawley - a cowboy, a real gentleman who respected his fellow cattlemen, and was respected by them for his knowledge of handling livestock. Lloyd was born on October 11, 1914 in Dundurn, SK. On November 9, 1938 he married Patricia Bullock in Streamstown, AB. This marriage of 67 years was blessed with 3 daughters, Elaine (Claude) Adams, Barbara (Jack) Lennon, and Donna (Claire) Isert. 9 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister Joan Kinshella; sister-in-laws Violet Killam , Audrey McKay, Evelyn Leighton and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving wife Pat on April 27th 2005 and three brothers Hugh (Rose) Gawley, Don Killam, & Robert McKay. Lloyd loved horses, dogs and cattle, and his cowboying days began at the young age of 7, when he rode 7 miles a day to and from school. He worked on the Oxford Ranch in Czar, the Tyler Ranch in Kitscoty, the Millers of Kitscoty and with Dick Hines of Marwayne whom he considered a true mentor. Lloyd worked with us for about 30 years at the feedlot and we are so blessed to have had him to share in our lives. Pat and Lloyd were like family to us. Our 5 children loved and respected him and have so many memories of times well spent with him. Lloyd chewed a lot of tums over the years and I used to wonder if it was because of my cooking, but now that I'm a senior I know indigestion can be a problem. This cowboy loved to garden and would often tease me when he would have new potatoes before I did. He was so grateful to Terry the last few years he was in his own home because she helped him with the garden, so he could enjoy the fresh veggies and be able to watch things grow. He often mentioned when we visited how much he appreciated all you did for him Terry. Lloyds family meant so much to him even though he wasn't one to show his feelings; he was always showing us pictures and talking about what you were doing. He loved you and was proud of you all. Lloyd was people person in his own way with not a lot of compliments. He was stern with my family but taught them to experience life by doing and not to quit trying. Lloyd had some funny sayings…On a cold morning if someone was shivering with the cold, he would say "if you brought a coat, you could always take it off" One morning Lloyd and I arrived at the feedlot and were waiting for Glen and Lloyd said 'that boy can run any machine, ride any horse, but he has trouble running an alarm clock" Another saying was "why are you running that cow, you know a cow doesn't know anything when she runs" Lloyd was giving directions to a gate somewhere in the pasture "If you're not there by dinnertime, you've either got up too late or rode too far." Lloyd was firm when he worked cattle but never mean. He would make the cattle think they were doing things their way and going the way he wanted them to go. Give him a horse, dog and rope and he could do anything with livestock. Brian said, "Look in the Dictionary under Cowboy and if it doesn't say anything about Lloyd Gawley, it isn't much of a dictionary!" Lloyd always had a tum bottle full of smarties for the kids, all he would say is "put out your hand" and the kids all knew what he meant and they would all get a good portion of smarties. One day Lloyd had a horse fall on him, he reined his head around and held the horse down…with one leg under the horse, Murray got on the horses head and I unbuckled the saddle with all the strap ends tucked in to the keepers. In no time we let the horse up and away. All concerned we said "is there anything broken" and Lloyd said "No I'm okay, but it took you guys long enough to get the saddle off." We have all come today to honor a great cowboy; he has touched us all in some way! Lloyd is riding high today….grass up to the stirrups and into the wind, with the sun at his back and the expression on his face saying, "That went not too bad" Job well done….Good Friend! -- Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much Have A Great Day! Carolin