REV. ERNEST ISAAC LOSEY WAS CALLED HOME TO HIS LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST APRIL 30, 2000 AT VULCAN, ALBERTA AT THE AGE OF 94 YEARS.
ERNEST WAS BORN FEBRUARY 10, 1906 AT BARRON COUNTY, WISCONSIN FIFTH CHILD OF SEVEN BORN TO LAFAYETTE AND GRACE LOSEY. IN 1922 FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER, ERNEST AND HIS FATHER MOVED TO BRUSH PRAIRIE AND LATER WOODLAND, WASHINGTON. IT WAS A SUMMER DAY IN 1924 THAT ERNEST ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS HIS PERSONAL SAVIOR. GOD CALLED HIM TO PREACH AND HE ATTENDED MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE AND THEN WESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PORTLAND, OREGON, GRADUATING IN 1939. THAT SAME SUMMER HE MARRIED MARIE FAIR, AND TOGETHER THEY TOOK HIS FIRST PASTORATE IN ENTERPRISE, OREGON. THEY MOVED TO BLAINE WASHINGTON IN 1943 WHERE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS HE WAS INVOLVED IN BIBLE CAMPS AND YOUTH MINISTRY. THEY MOVED BACK TO THE FAMILY FARM AT GREEN MOUNTAIN, WASHINGTON FOR A SHORT TIME AND WHILE THERE ERNEST WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING A NEW BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE AREA. IN 1947 ERNEST WAS CALLED TO PASTOR THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA. WHERE ERNEST SERVED AS CHAIRMAN WITH FOUR OTHER CHURCHES COOPERATING TO HOST THREE VERY SUCCESSFUL “UNION REVIVAL CAMPAIGNS”. HE MOVED HIS FAMILY TO LITTLE FOX CREEK NEAR EAGLESHAM IN THE PEACE RIVER DISTRICT WHERE HE WORKED WITH A STRUGGLING CANADIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION IN A NORWEGIAN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS HOLDING SERVICES IN WATINO A NEARBY COMMUNITY.
ERNEST BEGAN WORKING WITH THE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF CANADA AND MOVED HIS FAMILY TO MARSDEN, SASKATCHEWAN IN 1958. THEN IN 1962 TO CHAMPION AND WORKED AS PASTOR OF THE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH. HE AND MARIE MOVED TO PASTOR AT A BAPTIST CHURCH IN HIGH PRAIRIE IN 1965 AND CONTINUED WORKING THERE UNTIL ACCEPTING A CALL TO HIS LAST FULL-TIME PASTORATE IN GWYNNE, ALBERTA IN 1973.
IT WAS THERE THAT MARIE’S CANCER MOVED INTO A CRISIS STAGE, FOLLOWED BY TREATMENTS. ERNEST RETIRED AND MOVED ON TO HIS SON MARK’S PROPERTY IN BARRIERE, B.C. IN 1976 AND TWO YEARS LATER MARIE PASSED AWAY. GOD IN HIS GRACIOUSNESS BROUGHT HIM TOGETHER WITH A FORMER MISSIONARY MARJORIE METHERAL AND THEY WERE MARRIED JULY 1980. A NEW LIFE WAS STARTED WHICH BROUGHT THEM GREAT JOYS, HEART SEARCHING AND EXTENDED SERVICE FOR GOD. A SHORT TIME LATER THEY MOVED TO CLYDE, ALBERTA TO HELP SON-IN-LAW BILL PASTOR A CHURCH THERE. THEN TO CALGARY TO HELP AT PROPERTIES BAPTIST CHURCH THAT SON DAN WAS ATTENDING. THEN FOR A SHORT TIME HE HELPED WITH A CHURCH PLANTING IN LUMBY, B.C AND RETURNED TO CALGARY FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS WHERE HE ENJOYED WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIP AT THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
ERNEST LOVED LIFE AND LOVED SERVING THE LORD, TIME HELPING FAMILY AND WATCHING THEM GROW IN THEIR CHRISTIAN WALK. HIS GRANDCHILDREN REMEMBER HIM SAYING SO OFTEN “PRAISE THE LORD-PRAISE THE LORD”. HE WAS SO BLESSED, THE LORD MIRACULOUSLY PROVIDED FOR HIM TRIPS TO COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA AND THE HOLY LAND.
BELOVED HUSBAND OF MARJORIE OF CALGARY, LOVING FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS LAUREL FRESWICK OF THREE HILLS, MAYRUTH (BILL) GUENTER, THREE SONS LARRY (CARLEEN), MARK (SHERRILL) ALL OF CHAMPION AND DAN (JUNE) OF CALGARY SEVENTEEN GRANDCHILDREN, TEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
ERNEST WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS FIRST WIFE MARIE, THREE BROTHERS HAROLD, LEON, ROY, TWO SISTERS BESSIE, VOLORICE AND HIS PARENTS.
INTERMENT WAS HELD MONDAY MAY 1, 2000 AT MOUNTAIN VIEW MEMORIAL GARDENS, CALGARY.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE WAS HELD FRIDAY MAY 5, 2000 AT 2 P.M. AT THE CALGARY FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 123 PINETOWN PLACE N.E. CALGARY WITH PASTOR DAVID FLETCHER OFFICIATING.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS TRIBUTES IN ERNEST’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO TRINITATIAN BIBLE SOCIETY 39 CALDWELL CRES,. BRAMPTON, ONTARIO L6W 1A2.
ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. DIRECTORS. TELEPHONE 485-2633.