(submitted/Rotary Club of Melfort)

By Cam Lee

Remembering Gordon Liddle

‘A true community person and a true gentleman’: Gordon Liddle passes away

Oct 7, 2019 | 4:00 PM

A tireless volunteer and former Citizen of the Year in Melfort has died.

Gordon Liddle passed away Sept. 30 at the age of 86, and a service in Liddle’s memory was held Sunday, Oct. 6 at St. James Presbyterian Church.

Liddle was born in the Colgate area, and spent 35 years as an educator in nearby Weyburn, retiring as principal of Weyburn Junior High School in 1988.

He and his wife Bea moved to Melfort in 2002, with Bea passing away three years later.

Melfort Rotary Public Relations spokesperson Gail Marie Anderson said Liddle was heavily involved in making the city a better place.

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“He was instrumental in developing the Memorial Garden [in downtown Melfort] and it was near and dear to his heart,” Anderson said. “You could always see Gordon going around town, and usually he was stooped over pulling up weeds wherever he saw them.”

Anderson said Liddle would have an annual meeting with the city manager to discuss the state of affairs with the green spaces, flowers, and shrubs around Melfort.

Liddle also volunteered on the Melfort Arts Council, helped out with his church’s men’s group, and cooked pancakes at Parkland Place on Fridays for many years.

The Rotary Club was also near and dear to Liddle’s heart. He was in the Rotary in Weyburn and Melfort for a combined 56 years.

Liddle was named Rotarian of the Year in 2011, and in 2015 was recognized for his volunteer efforts by being named Melfort’s Citizen of the Year.

“Whatever he did, he did full tilt, and he was very organized [as] a former school principal.” Anderson said. “Things got done with Gordon, and he was able to get other people to do things, so he will really be missed by the entire community.”

“He was a true community person and a true gentleman as well.”

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974