Parkyn Bishop Nay

Nay - Parkyn Bishop Nay passed away peacefully in the late evening of August 9, 2010 at River Heights Lodge in North Battleford, SK Park was born June 9, 1919 in Scott, SK to Robert and Myrtle Nay, after siblings Robert (Bob) and Phyllis. Growing up in the Scott and Wilkie area gave Park a lifelong appreciation for farming and the outdoors.

Although he did not discuss it often, Park was proud of his early service in the Air Force.

An entrepreneur of long standing while working his farm near Scott, Park had an early involvement in the building of fibreglass boats and of course who else could boast of buildings made from a drive-in screen c/w soundsurround via drive-in speakers? He probably had the first fibreglass boat seen on Jackfish Lake! He was also known for his taste in fine cars - but not too sporty!

His ability to store things was legendary - cars, trucks, drive-in theaters - he kept them all!

Most winters saw Park getting away from the harsh Saskatchewan winters and enjoying the warmth of Mexico, a tradition started many years ago with his parents.

After retiring from the farm Park took up residence in the family home in North Battleford where he enjoyed gardening - love those raspberries - and watching hockey games.

While an avid duck hunter in his early years, a favourite for Park in latter times was going down to the wetlands and taking in the many types of waterfowl that nested or visited there.

Throughout his life Park was well known for his sense of humour; he enjoyed nothing better than a good banter that he usually won - with a big smile and a gleam in his eyes. Wearing his trademark hat of course.

Park is missed by nephews: Conrad (Gloria) Nay and Douglas (Sherry) Nay and their children, who all adored Uncle Park.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Howard Swanson for being a good friend and business advisor. Harold and Lorna Drewlo for being great friends and neighbours, and to the staff at River Heights Lodge for providing such warm and professional care over the last year and a half. Each on of you made a big difference.

Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 from the chapel of Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, 2591 99th St.(Hwy 4 North), North Battleford, SK. Interment will follow in the City of North Battleford Cemetery. Donations in memory of Park may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences for the family may be offered at www.wilsonandzehner.com . Arrangements under the direction of Donald Zehner of Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford, SK. (306) 445-6886.

EULOGY as given by Conrad and Douglas Nay

Douglas and I have written a letter to Uncle Park that we would like to share with you.

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Well Uncle Park, it has been a few weeks since you left us, and we have been thinking back over your life and what you meant to us. While doing this we have been reassured that we are not alone in having been affected by your life. Going through the photos - oh so many photos! - it is clear to us that you have many friends who are important to you and you sure had a good time!

Let's see if we can capture who you were without encroaching too much on your valued privacy.

Your entrepreneurial exploits were quite interesting indeed, often with the able collusion of Bob Svare, AKA your favourite brother in law.

A joint foray into the boat building business resulted in the creation of probably the first fibreglass boat to ply the waters of Jackfish Lake. You taught me how to waterski behind that boat!

You assured yourself that you would have a lifetime supply of silver painted plywood and angle iron when you purchased the Drive in Theatre. Not to mention a seemingly infinite supply of speakers.

Since fibreglassing was second nature to you, a logical project to bid on was the passenger seating at the Calgary International Airport.. Replacement seats were needed, so you offered to supply them. A technical challenge was that you had not made these seats before, and did not have the pattern to produce them. On go the coveralls with your aforementioned accomplice, off to the airport you go, and under the guise of performing maintenance, the two of you quietly remove an existing seat from the terminal. Voila - a mould. History does not mention whether your bid was successful or not.

While you were doing all of this fun stuff you also found the time to run your farm near Scott. Where you had the quonset. Which you filled with stuff. Lots of stuff. Let's see...every vehicle you owned, every farm implement you owned, and of course an entire drive in theatre complete with screen!

We all know that farming is a year round occupation, right? Please explain the photos and postcards that we constantly received from you from Mexico throughout the cold winters! For years on end. Perhaps that Agricultural Degree you earned from the University of Saskatchewan gave you the necessary skills to understand that grain does not grow well in Saskatchewan in February!

You were always up at Jackfish Lake during the summers, helping us to waterski, teaching me to swim, teaching me to fish, and most importantly, how to tell fish stories.

Speaking of Jackfish Lake, another great experience for this young 13 year old was getting behind the wheel of your beautiful black Buick and driving the back roads around the lake. With you beside me of course.

As kids we loved your cars, from the Buick to the Mercury. Especially That Mercury, with it's opening power rear window and an easy to reach antenna behind it. How many unsuspecting arms were directed to adjust the antenna as you were poised to suddenly raise the window?

You seemed to have enough army surplus trucks and vehicles that you would have easily been a back up supplier to the Canadian armed forces.

All in the quonset of course.

We're surprised, given your service in the air force, that there were no planes hidden away anywhere.

That we've found.

We will always remember you as a great friend to many, an exciting uncle to us, a great brother to our father and aunt Phyllis, and a wonderful son to your parents, especially as you cared for them and looked after them in their latter years.

Thank you Uncle Park for sharing your adventure with all of us.