It is with so much love that we celebrate the life of William George Whyte, who passed away on September 7th, 2023, nearly one month following his 94th birthday. George was born on the farm near Brooksby, SE 23-46-17-W4, the eldest child of Peter & Anne Boyd (Miller) Whyte, on August 11, 1929. He often joked that he was “born under a rock,” much to his children’s delight!

George helped on the farm from the moment he was old enough, and has regaled his family with many stories about those days – helping the threshing crew, sometimes running meals to them, other times helping on the wagon. He loved it when the threshers came, bringing added excitement and activity to the farm along with extra responsibilities for him!

He told a story about getting the harness on the team of horses. After slaving and toiling away, and adjusting all the buckles and chains, he ended up in hot water because it had taken too long to complete such a simple task! If he had only known that the harness hanging beside each horse was specific, and fitted to that horse only!

Recently, he spoke with some pride about the first time he was allowed to drive his dad’s John Deere tractor. He wasn’t strong enough to turn the flywheel to start it, so his dad had to do that, but he was quite pleased to have been given the responsibility of driving. He thought he would have been about six years old at the time.

Growing up with George could be quite an adventure at times! He was an entrepreneur, a builder of things, and an idealist. Every spring the farm would be surrounded by water. No problem for George…he would get busy and build a raft, grab a long stick and off he’d go. He would take his siblings out on the raft, too, of course, much to his mother’s terror. George was accident-prone. His sister Eleanor remembers him coming home from a broomball game in Brooksby with a face that should surely have put him in the hospital, but, no, he had to “tough it out.”

He first picked up a guitar at around age 8 and he was smitten! He’d received it as a Christmas gift, hidden under the bed, from his Mom. Playing music became a lifelong passion, and an instrument of some sort was almost always near to hand. As time went on, that old farmhouse rang with music day and night and even in the saddest times, George would always turn to his instruments for solace.

At about the same age, his Uncle Bill sent him the gift of a bike and suddenly he could ride like the wind. He treasured that bike and rode everywhere in the countryside, including, we’re told, through fences and, at least once, up the side of a tree. Through his own experience, he recognized the value in head protection and in later years, he repeatedly reminded all of his children to “make sure you wear your dipper” (helmet)!

When not riding his bike, the story is that he RAN everywhere, and was able to run for miles through the fields! Apparently, he was accomplished in shorter distances, too. Looking at the school roll calls and field day records will show his name next to many of the “dashes.” Even as he crept towards middle age his children could never win a foot race against him, although he would always keep it within reach so they never gave up hope!

George attended Irvington School through grade 9 when, as many oldest sons did at the time, he had to quit school to help with the farm. He had numerous classmates of Ukrainian ancestry through the years, and he picked up some of the language and idiosyncrasies that would later amuse us as kids when they came up in everyday conversation. He told us of one teacher in particular who told Dad he’d never be able to play a guitar, but Dad took that insult as a challenge. He sure showed that guy!

George was still living in the Brooksby area, and working winters at a sawmill camp near Flin Flon, when a certain school teacher began her first teaching position at nearby Campbellville school. He and Jean McCreight were married at Choiceland United Church on August 20, 1954, and the newlyweds resided in Star City, SK for the next two years (during which time Donna was born in 1955). Later they moved their little family to Edmonton, AB and proceeded to build a life there until Jean’s father was unexpectedly killed in a farming accident in November 1957. The couple responded by agreeing to take over farming the McCreight homestead land near Choiceland the following year. Three more children joined their family during the years on the farm, Brian in 1959, Eleanor in 1964, and Tracey in 1967.

Farming did not pay well on the land they had, so they went into the feeder cattle business, put up thousands of bales of hay, and unfortunately watched the markets drop. George took on extra employment with farm implement dealers, L.R. White, and later with F.V. Pierlot in Nipawin. He upgraded his education, always very important to him, and in 1971, they sold the farm and moved into Choiceland, where they owned and operated a service station, “Central Service,” until 1975. In 1976, they purchased the lumberyard in Choiceland and expanded to a new building but again, always one to feel the lumberyard needed to be subsidized, he sought work as a heavy duty mechanic with Woodland Enterprises.

Much of that time was spent working away from home, staying in camps, and the family was always so excited for him to come home on a Friday night, his worn brown suitcase sometimes carrying the very best treasures. Oranges seemed to taste better out of that suitcase, even though their skins smelled a bit like engine oil!

In 1984 / 85, George attempted a lumber yard expansion in Birch Hills but that didn’t work out and with Jean, and son-in-law Len managing Whyte Lumber & Supply in Choiceland, George set his sights on Alberta and obtained work in a shop dedicated to the sales and service of Romanian “Universal” tractors . . . with which he was very familiar from his endeavors at Central Service.

George was always community-minded, and looked for ways to improve life for his neighbors in the area. He was a member of the Purity Snow Plow Club, and the Purity Board Secretary, a member of the Elks of Canada for many years, serving as Exalted Ruler (“Grand Poobah”) for a while. He was instrumental in getting the new Elks Hall built in Choiceland, and spent many weekends taking the Elks midway to small town fairs in the area, operating the rides or making cotton candy. At the Choiceland Sports Day, he could most often be found running the Bingo tent. He served on the Choiceland Volunteer Fire Department, and was appointed Fire Chief for a number of years. George was a member of the Choiceland Recreation Board, Winter Festival Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce. He coached minor baseball for a couple of years, and was responsible in part for bringing the famous and hilarious Donkey Baseball team to Choiceland one year. His sense of fun and love of sport often shone through in projects he was involved in. Using his musical contacts, he was known to quickly pull together a band for a benefit dance whenever someone in the community had fallen on hardship of some kind.

George made friends everywhere, and we remember being amazed that no matter where we went as a family, Dad would run into someone that he knew! His network of musician friends was extensive, and those were the people that he most often connected with. Almost every weekend involved music … jam sessions, band practices, a community dance to play. Those nights at George’s house almost always ended with a midnight plate of his signature scrambled eggs for everyone before they set out on their way home.

In quieter times during the week he’d often play his guitar, even while watching the news on tv, his calloused fingers working the fretboard, trying out different sounds, practicing the lead in a new song. His guitar was the soundtrack of our childhood…we fell asleep to the sound of him playing softly in the living room. Comfort and safety delivered to our little ears in the darkness of our bedrooms. We are so grateful for his musical legacy.

George loved the babies that came into the family…baby boys always referred to in such a loving tone as “tiny man.” He gave each of us a special pet name, and we all remember the softness and love in that voice . . . “ Toby Gayle,” “Tiny man”, “Chussie Babe,” or “Trace-Lorraine.” We continued to hear that softness in his voice throughout the years as our own babies came along . . . he always pointed out the magic of how their toes automatically curled around his finger when he touched their feet. It was the sweetest thing!

And he loved dogs! The puppies stole his heart, being allowed to bite and chew his fingers and chin, and snuffle around his ears. From “wee Jordy” onward, he always enjoyed visits with his grand-dogs whenever they accompanied their people.

Once retired, George was able to devote more time to his musical endeavors. While still in St. Paul, AB, and later on, back in Melfort, he always had a group of friends with whom to play music, frequently volunteering to play local jamborees and seniors’ homes…”for cookies,” he would say. It was through this circle of friends where he first met Yvonne, who became his family and his final melody.

George’s family was his cherished treasure…. Even in his last months when he couldn’t always remember our names or family connection, he always knew we belonged together and looked at us with those same adoring eyes, the same smile that he always had. He was so happy we were there.

George was predeceased by his wife Jean in 1990, his mother in 2000, his father in 2004, and son-in-law Leonard in 2004.

Left with treasured memories and many stories to tell are Yvonne, the closing song in his heart; his children, Donna (Lorne), Brian (Debbie), Eleanor, Tracey (Darren); grandchildren, Marya (Jason), Connor (Jenna-May), Madessa, Layton, Destiny, Dana (Jason), Jarrett, Jacob; his great-grandchildren, Joran, Kamryn, Brady, Declan, Torin, Liam, and brand-new baby Bennett. He leaves his siblings, Jean, Eleanor (Murray), Joan (Cliff), Allan (Marlene), along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews.

The family invited all who knew George to join them at a Celebration of Life on Sunday, October 8, 2023, 2-4 pm, at the Brooksby Hall. Friends wishing to make memorial donations please consider a favorite animal rescue, Parkland Place, Melfort, SK where Dad spent his final years, or another charity of your choice. There are so many in need.

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 : 2023-09-07
• Location : Melfort, SK