Elwood "Sparky" Mayes

Elwood was born, August 17, 1933, to Emma Lee and Hank Mayes. He was raised on a farm north of Maidstone, SK in the Eldon District. Elwood was the youngest of seven children having three sisters and three brothers. He moved to Saskatoon at the age of 19 and started his career as a “Red Cap” in 1953 and later worked as a baggage attendant for CNR/Via Rail and retired in 1990. At the same time, he worked a second job in construction as a stuccoer. This career would later take him to Kelowna BC.

In 1956, he first married Rosabella Shrimpton and together they had five children, Brian (Jana), Terry, Dwayne (Lorelei), Darrell (Sheryl) and Rodney. He married once more, Eva Cook, in 1974 which then gave them a blended family with Eva’s sons Jim (Janice), Randy and daughter Marcy (Brian). He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Elwood loved watching all five of his boys play sports and he rarely missed any of their games. In the late 1980’s he had the opportunity to co-own thoroughbred racehorses with his oldest son Brian. He enjoyed watching his horses run and winning a buck or two! His love of sports was evident as he was an avid fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Blue Jays and Calgary Flames.

After Eva’s passing in 2018, he decided he wanted to return to Saskatoon to be closer to other family and friends. It was during this time that he was reunited with his daughter Cher White. He moved into Luther Heights Care Home where he made a lot of very close friends and enjoyed his time there. As his health declined, he moved to Circle Drive Special Care Home.

He was predeceased by his wife Eva, sisters Lorraine Workum, Alda Owens and Bobbi Johnston, brothers Arlie Mayes, Rosco Mayes, Stevie Mayes, son Ronald McLean, infant twin daughters and stepson Jack Cook.

The family would like to thank Joan Forder for being a friend and close companion to Elwood over the past year. We would also like to thank the staff and care providers at Circle Drive Special Care Home for taking such good care of him in the short amount of time he was there.

At his request there will not be a funeral. You are invited to a viewing on Wednesday, September 13 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Mourning Glory - Acadia McKague’s Funeral Chapel located at 915 Acadia Drive.