Obituary of Allen Pattison

B I O G R A P H Y PATTISON: Allen William Pattison passed away on Friday, April 4, 2008 in the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan at the age of 98 years. Allen is survived by: three children: Bev and her husband George Henry of Lloydminster, Shirley and her husband Ismal Sutankayo of Edmonton and Lorne Pattison and his wife Shirley of Marshall; five grandchildren: Diane and her husband Mike Kenyon of Marshall, Daryl Pattison and his wife Joanna of Edmonton, Dwayne Pattison and his wife Jiyeun of Saskatoon, Steven and Lynn Sutankayo of Edmonton; five great grandchildren: Christopher, Amanda and Kevin Kenyon and Brendan and Kelsey Pattison as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Allen was predeceased by his wife Irene (Renie) in 2001; grandson, Kevin Pattison; brother Don and sister-in-law Elsie Pattison; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Roy and Ethel Metcalf; and close family friend, Bill Longley. The funeral service for Allen was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Bob Aldrich officiating. A eulogy was given by Dr. Glenn Weir. A processional "Amazing Grace," was played on CD. Hymns sung were "How Great Thou Art," and "In The Garden," and the recessional was "Bringing In The Sheaves," accompanied on the organ by Irene Knowlson. The Grace United Church Choir sang "In The Bulb There Is A Flower." Active pallbearers were: Cliff Graham, Len Pryor, Len Long, Darwin Urlacher, Jim Duffee and Ron George. Interment followed in the Marshall Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy Allen William Pattison by ~ Dr. Glenn Weir The Bill Pattison family lived in various parts of Washington, Oregon and Minnesota and Allen's early school years were in Washington and Oregon. He also attended Fartown school, where they made him repeat the grade he had already passed in the States. In 1922 the family moved to Canada to take up farming in the Fartown District in the Marshall/Lone Rock area. Over the years they farmed 32 quarters of land with an IHC crawler tractor. In the spring it was a twenty-four hour operation to get the seed in and if they were not using their equipment for farming they built roads for the Rural Municipality. They had one of the first combines in the area and did custom threshing. October 26, 1935 he married Irene (Renie) Whittle and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in the year 2000. In 1936 Allen & Renie moved to Vancouver where Allen took a course in Diesel Mechanics and worked a year for Nelson Packing Company as engineer on a seine boat. In the spring of 1938 they with their infant daughter, Bev, returned to the family farm where they resided for fifty-two years. During this time their second daughter, Shirley, and son, Lorne, were born. 1990 saw retirement to an apartment in Lloydminster and in September 2000 a move to Pioneer Lodge where he resided until his death. He was an avid reader and researcher. Because of his low vision in the last few years, he kept his family busy researching on the Internet and making tapes of various topics. He also enjoyed his "talking books," music tapes and CDs. He always had a love for music. This prompted him to purchase a $5.00 fiddle from Eaton's in 1928 or 1929. He later purchased a $50.00 violin which he played in a Concert Orchestra in Lone Rock and on many other occasions as well as for dances. In 1930 his 21st birthday present was an E flat Alto Saxophone which eventually led him to form his dance band "The Pats." He arranged and wrote the harmony for a number of the selections they played. Many people danced to the music of "The Pats" as they played every Friday night for a number of years in the Marshall Hall and on occasion played in surrounding areas. He also played clarinet in the Lashburn Band. At one time all three of his children played in the dance band with him, a great thrill for him. He was a member of the Saskatchewan Farmers Union and also a founding member of the National Farmers Union and president of Local 633 as well as a member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. He was also a contributor to the establishment of the Lloydminster and District Community Health Services Association Ltd., later known as the Co-op Medical Centre. Of course Allen was very interested in politics and spent many hours on the phone, at any time during the day or night, with his late brother, Don, and numerous friends interested in his philosophy. He was always trying to make the world a better place for future generations. The annual family vacation to Loon Lake with Don's family was a favourite event. While Allen and Don fished, Renie and Elsie would pick and can saskatoon berries. Allen also enjoyed travelling. He and Renie often talked about the trips they made across Canada, the Western United States, Alaska and as far south as Mexico. They took many trips with the little Datsun pickup and camper. It was small, but they really enjoyed it. In his younger years he did a lot of curling and in later years enjoyed a bowling game with the family. In retirement he enjoyed listening to the baseball games and was an avid Toronto Blue Jay fan. Bowling and curling were also two of his favourite TV programs. The one thing we know for sure is that Allen always looked forward to the kids coming home and paying him a visit. He always made a special effort to be at the family gatherings. Birthday and Christmas gifts were no problem as he was always in need of Copenhagen and his "sleep medicine," otherwise known as Ballantine Scotch and water. Allen, up to last fall, was still using the rowing machine, doing 100 or more push/pulls. He also lived the farthest from the dining room but refused to move closer as he needed the exercise. To the end Allen's mind was very sharp. He operated all the controls on his TV remote, Tape/CD player and telephone by memorizing the various aids the family had applied. While in hospital he reminded the family that Monday was his laundry day and the books had to be returned on Wednesday. The family greatly appreciates all the help of staff and friends which enabled Allen to remain at his home in the Lodge. Memories are such a part of the celebration in the life of Allen Pattison and he certainly left many for all of us to carry along our journey. You have all heard of the Bermuda Triangle - a very dangerous thoroughfare to travel. Well the Marshall Triangle had three specific dangers from my point of view; there were too many calories - food - good food any time of day or night (a volkswagon cannot hold a too well fed vet!). Secondly, there was, and is, a liver danger, as a sleeping potion too often can be; and thirdly, one time there was a danger of being impaled on a three tined fork. The Allen Pattisons were the same as the whole darned pack except - they never threatened me with a pitch fork. The Marshall Triangle consisted of Sid Early, Geordie Keefe, Earl Maves, McKenzies, Les Rowe, The Phipps' (always a bunch of kids around their place), Grahams, Longs, Bill Longley, Allen and Don's Mom, Don Pattison, and the Allen Pattisons. If, in my advanced years, I forgot any of the MOB, I am sorry. Seriously this was the area that I seemed to find a true fit with when I first came to Lloydminster and still find something special about the legacy of Allen Pattison and his compatriots. They showed me how to live with pride, kindness, and generosity intermingled with love and laughter while considering the well being of our fellow human beings. Allen, thank you for the goodness, the values and your just plain "being" that you offered to us. His life is a page turned - a chapter finished - a book closed. Card of Thanks Sincere thanks to the Home Care staff, the doctors, nurses and staff of the Lloydminster Hospital for their support and excellent care of Dad. We truly appreciate all the help the management, staff and friends provided which allowed him to remain at his home in the Lodge. A special thank you to Dr. Kerlis for the wonderful care of Dad over the years. You were not only his doctor but a very special person to him. Our thanks and appreciation to Reverend Bob Aldrich, the United Church Choir, Organist Irene Knowlson, Dr. Glenn Weir for giving the eulogy, the friends who served as pallbearers, Arnie Pittao for editing "The Pats" CD music, Golden Jubilee Rebekah Lodge for the lovely lunch and to Glenn McCaw and staff for their compassion, kindness and assistance. Our heartfelt thanks to family, friends and neighbors for the cards, donations, flowers, telephone calls, visits and food brought to our homes. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered. Allen's Family Donations in memory of Allen may be made to the CNIB, the Lung Association or the National Farmer's Foundation.