Ellwood Earl Myers of Vulcan passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on December 4, 2003 at the age of 82 years.
Ellwood was born October 13, 1921 at Vulcan to Percy and Pearl (Laverne) Myers. He attended school in Vulcan and at the age of 18, joined the Navy. He knew he would be drafted so volunteered for the Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1940 and shortly thereafter, he got his notice to report to the Army. He had made the right choice for him. He worked his way up the ranks and made the distinction of Petty Officer which he was quite proud of. He never had glory stories of the war but he was very proud of the fact that he had served his country, which he did for six years. He had met Dorothy Levers while still in school and in 1943, he and Dorothy wed. He left for duty shortly after they were married and returned three years later. To this marriage three children were born; Stuart, Marion and Lloyd.
Ellwood worked for the Richardson and Gould dealership in Vulcan for a time. After that he worked for Ron Buehler at Vulcan Electric and after that he ran the Vulcan Seed Cleaning Plant. In 1956 he started farming east of Vulcan and the family moved from town to farm at that time. Livestock was low priced at the time but they strived to maintain a few farm animals; imported pigs, chickens, milk cows and the like. Ellwood continued to work at the Seed Cleaning Plant for a while and at the same time tried to get the farm up and running. Ellwood and Dorothy retired from active farming in 1980 and retired to their present home in Vulcan in 1982.
For 23 years they traveled south to Mesa, Arizona on the annual migration of the snowbirds. They had a trailer in the Fiesta Travel-Trailer Park on University Drive for almost 20 years. They had a very large circle of friends that lived in the area and they spent many productive hours. Ellwood golfed for a number of years and Dorothy was busy with her crafts. They enjoyed their many friends and their constant get togethers. Skyrocketing health insurance rates and the decline in the Canadian dollar made them decide to sell their trailer and stay home and endure the cold winters in Alberta.
Ellwood was a past member of the Vulcan Lions Club, a club he joined in 1948. He served as president of the club for a term. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Vulcan and served as president of this club for a term. He enjoyed his community and friends and he spent countless hours driving around town to keep current on all the activities. He was a big television buff and sports were his favorite to watch, especially the Calgary Flames Hockey team.
Ellwood was always very direct on his wishes. He was decisive with choices he would make with everyone, including his family. This attitude carried over as well with his Doctors, Nurses and home care specialists at the end of his life. Ellwood was not one that you hovered over and he always was anxious to know the bottom line.
Ellwood leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Dorothy Their son Stuart (Fern) Myers and their daughter Marion (Wendel) Jones, both of which live in Lethbridge. He also has three grandchildren, Brad (Angel) Jones of Coaldale, Alberta, Jeff Jones of Penticton, BC and Heather (Jeremy) Challenger of Lethbridge, Alberta. There are also four great grand children that will desperately miss their great grandfather; Andrew, Scarlett, Caleb and Jacob.
Ellwood was predeceased by his parents, by his son Lloyd, his grandson Donald and two sisters, Margaret and Blanche. Donald Stuart Myers was born November 22, 1971. He died on February 6, 1999 in a vehicle accident at the age of 27. He was the only son of Stuart and Fern Myers.
Donnie was living in Johnson, Kansas at the time of his death, where he was employed along with his parents in the custom harvest business. Donnie’s remains were cremated and now on this day, Stuart and Fern wish to place his ashes with those of his beloved grandfather, Ellwood.