Roy Allan Avis

It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Roy Allan Avis, with family by his side, on Thursday March 31, 2022 at LaVerendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario. Roy was born on April 21, 1946 in Kenora, Ontario to Allan and Edna Avis. He grew up in Fort Frances, graduating from Fort Frances High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Superior where he played university hockey. He also attended Ryerson University in Toronto before deciding to return to Fort Frances to join the family business. On July 4, 1970 he was united in marriage to Barbara Ann Ogden and together they raised two children, Kimberly and Chad.

Roy’s life centered around his family. He loved spending time with them creating memories at the cabin and boating on Rainy Lake. In recent years, Roy was his happiest when attending the numerous activities of his three grandchildren. Whether it was a hockey game, soccer game, baseball game, dance recital, swim meet or school event, he was always there beaming with pride for their performances. In the last year of his life, he even developed a particular fondness for his grandpuppies, Olive and Theo.

Roy was a successful businessman owning and operating West End Motors in Fort Frances. He began his career in the Automotive Industry in 1968. He quickly settled into the business, working alongside his father until his passing in 1990. Roy always had an entrepreneurial spirit about him and was a wonderful mentor and role model to his own children who followed in their father’s footsteps operating their own businesses. He was very proud to see Kimberly operating her Optometric clinic and Chad carrying on the family business for a third generation.

Roy had a great passion for people and his community. He was so proud to be from Fort Frances and the Rainy River District. Wherever he went he would always tell people what a great place it was to live. He always said “there was no better place to be than on Rainy Lake.” Roy served as a town councillor for nine years followed by twelve years as the Mayor of Fort Frances. Some of the many boards and committees he served on during his lifetime include The Fort Frances Curling Club Executive Committee, Fort Frances Power Corporation Board, Fort Frances Network Services Board, Fort Frances Police Services Board and as a trustee for The Rainy River District School Board. For his dedication to community service, Roy received The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was also recognized as a finalist for the 2018 Canadian Automotive Dealer’s Association Laureate Award for Ambassadorship.

In the last few years, Roy had many challenges with his health. He faced each day with strength and determination. His positive attitude was an inspiration to all that knew him.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Barbara; daughter Dr. Kimberly Avis (Desmond) of Courtice, Ontario; son Chad Avis (Lynne) of Fort Frances; grandchildren Peyton, Isabella and Noah Avis; siblings Beth (Jack) Avis-Belleghem of Georgetown, Ontario; Brian (Jan) Avis of Gleniffer Lake, Alberta; Penny (Jim) Newman of Fort Frances, Ontario and Paul (Cindy) Avis of Oakville, Ontario; in-laws Don (Cathy) Ogden of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Sharon Wilhelm of Burlington, Ontario as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Roy was predeceased by his parents Allan and Edna; father-in-law Woodburn Ogden; mother-in-law Edith Ogden; brother-in-laws Paul Wilhelm and Ken Ogden; sister-in-law Florence Ogden and nephew Brent Ogden.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at The Knox United Church in Fort Frances, Ontario with Dianne Debenedet officiating.

The pallbearers will be Guy Avis, Jim Avis, Guy Klem, Mark McCaig, Brad Oster and Ken Perry.

The honourary pallbearers will be Heikki Lampi, Dr. Robert Lidkea, Jim Newman, Rod Newman, Alton Pollard, Tom Reid, Paul Ryan and Frank Strain.

If friends so desire in memoriam donations can be made to Riverside Healthcare Foundation – Palliative Care Unit, 110 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 2B1 or Brain Injury Canada, 440 Laurier Ave. W, Ottawa, ON, K1R 7X6.