George Lay

In Loving Memory of

Frank "George" Lay

Legacy of Life

On Thursday, April 30, 2020, George Lay, husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away suddenly at the age of 79. George will be lovingly remembered by Sharon, his wife and best friend of 53 years. He will be forever missed by his three children: Tannis (Stewart), Kimberlee (Scott), and Colin and his five grandchildren: Tristen, Sydney, Aurora, Lillawhin, and Riller.

George left a little piece of himself in any home that his children owned. He took great pride and pleasure doing any renovation that his kids thought they needed. He believed that any job worth doing was worth doing well, except when it came to hanging a picture or a mirror. It did not matter how many nail holes he made to find a stud, because, “who is going to see it back there”. Although George was not mechanically inclined, he could jigger anything with haywire, bailer twine, and in his later years silicone.

George developed a strong work ethic and it was something he maintained throughout his life. He tried his hand at many jobs: mining, building roads, logging, farming, and owning a business. He eagerly awaited each spring so he could get out in the field to plant the crop. In later years, it was to get up very early in the morning to putter in the yard and garden, and, of course, to go pick stones. He loved nothing more. Nothing ever went to waste, he saved the oddest things knowing they would be useful at a later date. He always found a use for everything, repurposing what was around the yard to build sheds, garages, flowerbeds, and birdhouses.

George had a great sense of humor, he always had a joke, most of which took a second to register. What began as a puzzled face ended in laughter and a slap on the shoulder. Anyone who knew George knew that he called almost no one by their given name. He had his own name perfectly suited for each person he knew. How he came up with these names is a mystery, but I bet that each of us feels privileged to have one.

Always Remembered

Frank George Nicholas Lay was born on July 11, 1940, the second child of Frank and Annie (Hosaluk) Lay in Canora, Saskatchewan. He attended Rama School, graduating in 1959. Following graduation, he went to work in the nickel mines in Thompson, Manitoba but came back within a couple of years knowing that mining wasn’t for him. He started farming with his dad and working for the R.M. of Invermay building roads.

George married Sharon Melynchuk on October 29, 1966. They stayed on the farm for a brief time, then moved to Kamloops, British Columbia where George worked as a logger. They returned in 1970 to the family farm, that was established in 1908, where they raised their children and where he resided until his passing.

George was known as a great athlete in his earlier years. He loved sports and was an avid curler. He had a passion for hunting, fishing, and anything else to do with nature. George was an active member of the community, taking part in many clubs and organizations over the years.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Sharon; daughter Tannis (Stewart) Shewchuk, and their children Tristen and Sydney; daughter Kimberlee (Scott) Street and their children Aurora, Lillawhin, and Riller; and son Colin. He is also survived by his brother Bob (Gail) Lay, nephews Robin (Nicole), and Donn (Adriana); his brother-in-law Bob Baxter, nieces Pam (Brian), and Patty (Rob), and nephew Rob (Connie); as well as many great nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by many friends.

George was predeceased by his father Frank, his mother Annie, and sister Vivian. Also predeceasing him was his father-in-law, mother-in-law and three brothers-in-law.

A celebration of George’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a food bank of your choice in memory of George Lay.