Mr. Roy Murray Beaton Osborne

Roy Murray Beaton Osborne

It is with great sadness that the family of Roy Murray Beaton Osborne announce his passing on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital at the age of 89.

Roy was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 20, 1924 to Arthur and Maybel Osborne and attended Daniel McIntyre School on William Avenue.

He was predeceased by his wife Barbara last summer, sisters Helen and Marjorie and brothers Bert, Leonard and Wallace.

Roy’s early years were spent growing up between Winnipeg and the Rideout in Kenora as his dad moved here to work for the railway. Roy spent many days swimming and fishing on the Winnipeg River as a youngster. He had a couple of jobs early on and one was a paperboy in Rideout and later helping Mr. Tackleberry at the funeral parlour. Time went by and at age 17, he travelled to Winnipeg to join the Black Watch Regiment as two older brothers were already enlisted but was sent to Thunder Bay to fill spots there. He was trained in “Snipers and Scouts” school prior to being sent to England in April 1944 and soon onto France where he was injured in battle by a German mortar on August 19, 1944 near the present day town at Barbery Frances in Normandy. On December 15, 1944, Roy arrived back in Winnipeg to recover from his injuries at the Deer Lodge Hospital.

Roy’s career would start in Thunder Bay for the Canadian Pacific Railway prior to being sent off to the war and he would span 43 ½ years, with the final 25 working in Kenora for the company. He began as a wiper in the shops and slowly “moved up the ladder” to brakeman, fireman on steam engines and lastly as an engineer on the diesel electrics.

Throughout Roy’s life, he was an accomplished hunter and fisherman spending many days with friends, family and not too far behind, his trusty dog on adventures. He was a respected and hardworking man that was always available to lend a helping hand to friends and family. Roy loved playing baseball with friends on Dave’s Huskies fastball team in the 60’s & 70’s to the Allie Cats and Promos in the 80’s. Early retirement saw dad spend a lot of time manning his garden until health issues slowed him down. At the age of 80, he had a triple bypass surgery and the next year colon cancer. Roy fought these issues off like a champ and showed us all how strong of a person he really was. The last year his cancer came back around and it proved just too much of a fight at this stage in his life.

Roy is survived by brother Wayne (Barb) Lewis of B.C., children Dennis, Richard, Bradley (Deanna), Cindy and six grandchildren from his first marriage along with children Janice, Susan, Donald, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren from his second marriage.

We are grateful to the staff of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital for their excellent care, patience and understanding. Thank you to the nurses of second east who were the front line for our dad. Thank you to Dr. Beveridge for his dedication and assistance with all matters involving Roy’s health: the staff at No Frills Pharmacy for their assistance: special friends Wayne & Denise Mackie and Gus Hollinsworth for their time spent visiting dad and all his friends who he was fortunate enough to see in his last days. He cherished every encounter and wouldn’t let anyone leave without a few words. “Always safety first” and “Adios Amigo.”

A Service for the Celebration of Roy’s life will take place at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on September 6, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com

BROWN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS