Ray George Birkenshaw
February 25, 1929 - April 17, 2016
As published in the June 13, 2016 World-Spectator
Ray George Birkenshaw was born on February 29, 1929 to William and Lena Birkenshaw. He was the eldest of six children.
Most of his eighty-seven years were spent on the family farm that his Grandfather George began in 1909.
He married Margaret Sutherland on August 23, 1958 and began a partnership that lasted fifty seven and a half years.
Ray loved the farm and everything that came with it, the animals, crops, garden, roses, and orchard. He also loved to hunt, fish, quad, swim, go camping, snowmobiling, horseback riding and anything outdoors.
He raised purebred Aberdeen Angus cattle. One of the highlights of his career was winning the Grand Champion Bull at Agribition in 1974. He also had Cattle chosen to go to Bulgaria to build up a breeding herd.
Ray and Margaret had five children, eleven Grandchildren, two step grandchildren and six Great Grandchildren. Ray loved being a Grandpa. There was nothing that couldn’t wait till later when the Grandchildren came to visit. He loved to spoil them and we were never too sure what they might be up to with Grandpa!
Ray worked as a battery operator for over twenty years and later in life began witching for oil with Bill East and Raj Hundal who both became very good friends to Ray.
He was a glass half full kind of guy who went through many tough times - losing his infant Grandson Tyronne in 1983, his barn burning down in 1985, watching his daughter Rose Marie lose her courageous battle with cancer in 1991 and his Grandaughter Erin having to fight the same battle as her Mom and losing her in 2007 and losing his house in a fire in 2012.
All very difficult things to go through but he always found a way through the pain.
Ray left us all a priceless inheritance - a wealth of stories and knowledge that relationships are what make life rich and meaningful. A life well lived.
Ray was predeceased by his parents William and Lena Birkenshaw; daughter Rose Marie Lawrence; Grandchildren Tyronne Langley and Erin Lawrence; sister Joyce Mcllvenna; brother-in-law Gerry Mcllvenna; sisters-in-law Marcia Birkenshaw and Gena Sutherland; nephew Kevin Mcllvenna; parents-in-law Gordon and Frances Sutherland.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Margaret; daughters Cindy Gossling (Malcolm) and Melodie Spurr; sons Clint Birkenshaw (Cindy) and Adam Birkenshaw (Jenna); son-in-law Luke Lawrence (Jan); his Grandchildren Darci Palmer (Aaron); lan Langley (Savanah); Michael Spurr (Crystal); Summer Heide (Nick); Jenna Spurr; Jared Lawrence (Vicki); Ali Birkenshaw (Nick); Caleb Birkenshaw (Courtney); Jolie Dressel. Step grandch-ldren Jacob and Joshua Parker, Great-grandchildren Rayna and Gavin Palmer; Mikka and Harlow Heide; Nash and Kade Spurr, brother Garry Birkenshaw; sisters, Helen Birkenshaw; Elva Jaenen (Al); Shirley Goodman (Don) as well as many nieces and nephews who were all very special to him.
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