Garry John Stevenson was the eldest child born to Leslie & Bernice Stevenson in Melfort on December 17, 1949.  Gayle, Danny and Kathleen followed.  Dad lived on the farm at Ethelton his entire life until he and Mom moved to Melfort in May of 2019.

Growing up, he was very involved in sports, the Meskanaw-Ethelton  4-H Beef Club and helping out on the farm.  After high school, Dad attended the Vocational    Agriculture program at the U of S.  Mom and Dad met at a 4-H Provincial  Selections event in Saskatoon in July 1968 and were together ever since then.  Mom said she took one look at Dad and his fate was sealed.  They married on October 31, 1970.  They dressed up as a Bride and Groom for that  Halloween.  They have three children.

Dad was the hardest working man I know.  He didn’t say much and he loved to make others laugh.  His favorite thing to do was to cut himself a piece of cake out of the center of the cake.  He liked to plan and he would have a Plan A, Plan B and if it was something really complex, there would also be a Plan C and Plan D.  He could find the positive in any situation.  If you ended up last in something, he would say that no one can beat you from the bottom!  Nothing seemed to faze him, not even the Parkinson’s diagnosis or the cancer.

His love for his family was immense and he would do anything he could to help out, whether it was cutting wood at Dennis’s cabin or cleaning barn at the        chuckwagon races.  He was Tim’s biggest fan and would tell everyone that he was going to start outriding when he lost  30 – 30 years and 30 pounds.  He loved    going to the grandkids events and was up for anything they asked him to do, even hopscotch with  Ellie.  In the last few years, he became proficient in making and editing videos and posted many of them on Instagram.  I even had him come to Nirvana to make a TLR video for me to present at a staff meeting.

Mom and Dad have gone on many trips and especially loved  spending their   winters in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  They made many wonderful memories with some amazing friends.  He had a love for golf and spent as much time as he could on the golf course, whether in Melfort or Mexico.

Garry was predeceased by his parents Les and Bernice Stevenson, his  parents-in-law Chlorus and Vera Bliss, sister-in-law Lynda Bliss and brother-in-law Gerry  Robinson.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Marlene, son Dennis Stevenson (Andrea Dixon), Riley, Jarrett, Owen and Myah; daughter Melissa (Tim) Haroldson and   Ellie; daughter Megan (Darby) Dover, Nicole, Morgan, Rylan and Jesse; sister Gayle (Neil) Rutherford; brother Danny (Rosanne) Stevenson, sister Kathleen   Stevenson (Doug Drake), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

I admit I don’t know what God’s plan is for all of us and if it were up to me, I would’ve got to spend many more years with Dad.  I am trusting that God will give us all the strength to go on without him.  Dad is now free of pain and at peace, as described in Revelations 21:3-4.

I will miss our phone calls to just talk or for me to ask his advice.  He is and will always be my hero and I am so thankful for the time I did get with him.

Till we see you again!

A Celebration of Garry’s Life was held from the Melfort Evangelical Covenant Church on Saturday, December 30, 2023 with Gladys Court officiating.  The interment will take place at a later date.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to Parkinson’s Canada, the RUH Oncology Department, or to the Melfort Golf & Country Club.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online guestbook at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort. (306) 752-3838.

 

 

• Date : 2023-12-26
• Location : Melfort, SK