Lorry Boyd Forbes

Lorry was born on March 13th, 1950 on a small homestead near Canwood, Saskatchewan. At the age of 6 months he was adopted by Elfrieda and Robert Forbes of Choiceland, Saskatchewan. He was always an active and engaged child, showing an aptitude for science at a young age, keeping aquariums and building models. His parents encouraged that “school always came first” and while other boys his age were pulled from class to help with the harvests, they would not allow that for Lorry. In school, Lorry participated in all activities – sports, drama, whatever he could get involved in, always getting top grades. In grade 8 he met his future wife Frances Isaac, and by grade 11 they were dating. After graduating from grade 12, Lorry headed to the big city of Saskatoon, where he entered the University of Saskatchewan college of Arts and Science in 1968. Despite both being busy with school, Lorry and Frances were married in Choiceland SK on July 10th, 1971. This began a 55-year loving and supportive marriage between the best of friends.

Lorry graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1974 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After a brief stint in small animal practice in Edmonton, AB, Lorry and Frances returned to Saskatoon in 1976 to be closer to family, the same year Lorry lost his father to lung cancer. At this point, Lorry’s career took a 180-degree turn, when he accepted a position with Agriculture Canada at the newly completed Saskatoon Laboratory on the U of S campus. Lorry played a crucial role in the national Brucellosis eradication program, setting up an internationally recognized reference center for brucellosis bacteriology, while obtaining his Master of Microbiology in 1984. At the same time, Frances and Lorry were raising a very young family, with the arrival of their son Damien and a few years later, their daughter Carli. Lorry and Frances chose not to relocate their family when the Brucellosis Bacteriology Reference Lab was moved to Ottawa, ON. Instead, Lorry pivoted yet again, developing expertise in parasitology, specifically trichinellosis. Throughout his career, Lorry’s research resulted in more than 60 publications in peer reviewed journals, and over 100 presentations at conferences in Canada, the USA, Britain, Italy, Croatia, France, and Japan. Some of his most interesting work travel included consulting on brucellosis in the middle East (Oman) and as a course instructor at the federal quarantine station on the island of Grosse Ile, Quebec.

Lorry was never one to sit still. When not at work in his early family years, Lorry could be found doing a multitude of renovations on home, rental house or cabin with Damien and Carli underfoot. He was his own carpenter, electrician and plumber. He absolutely loved the family cottage at Candle Lake that they started building in 1982 from the ground up. As his kids grew older and the cabin closer to finished, more of Lorry’s time was spent

supporting his kids in their various endeavors, always the consummate fan, always their number one supporter. Although the cabin at Candle Lake was the main vacation spot for his family, Disneyland and Disneyworld trips over the years also contributed to core cherished family memories.

Lorry and Frances always had a very active social life, filled with friends, dinner parties, theatre, golf, and as their kids grew older, travel. Hawaii became a favorite winter getaway for both. In the latter half of his life, Lorry enjoyed biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, reading and gardening. After joining Frances in retirement in 2012, they began to travel extensively, visiting France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Spain, New York, Newfoundland, Sicily, and Malta to name a few.

As Lorry’s family grew with increasing grandchildren, he and Frances found they were traveling more to visit family than they were spending time at their home in Saskatoon. With family spread across the country, Lorry and Frances decided to sell the beloved family cabin at Candle Lake, and eventually their home in Saskatoon to relocate to Chilliwack BC in 2018. Upon arrival, Frances and Lorry immediately joined the Probus club, and quickly had another busy social life, continuing to travel internationally, and visiting Damien and his family in Toronto, ON. Lorry had a very important job the last few years, that of the active grandpa. The love he had for his kids he just grew to encompass his grandchildren. They could do no wrong, and always knew grandpa was on their side. He was always available for games, candy, a snuggle, getting his hair fluffed, and as they grew older, an in-depth conversation, a movie, a hug, or even a last-minute ride or walk home from school.

As well as being a loving husband, father and grandfather, Lorry was also a supportive son, son-in-law, brother-in-law, brother and uncle throughout his life. Many of his nieces, nephews, and sister-in-laws were invited into his home to live when needed during their lives. He always made the long road trip out to Balfour, BC multiple times a year to visit Frances’s parents, and he ensured his mother Ella was a part of his and Frances’ daily life. He moved her little trailer beside his cabin at Candle Lake when his dad died, so she could visit easily in the summer from Choiceland. As she aged and needed to be closer to medical care, he moved her into seniors housing in Saskatoon where she happily lived close to his family until the day she passed.

He is survived by his wife Frances Forbes, his son Damien Forbes (wife Sheila Gibb) and his grandkids Ella and Ada, his daughter Carli Ricka (husband Jason) and his grandkids Isaac, Desmond, Alistair and Juliet, his sister Shelley Pearson, and his sister-in-laws Roberta, Margaret (husband Milton), and Sandra (husband Bill).

Lorry leaves a hole in our hearts, but a legacy of love and unconditional support that will always be with us.

A celebration of his life will be held on May 18th, 2pm at the Grand Hall, 45939 Thunderbird Lane #201, Chilliwack, BC. As a family, we have chosen to honour Lorry’s memory with a donation to the Chilliwack Hospital Foundation. For those who feel so inclined, contributions in Lorry’s name would be a meaningful way to remember him.