George Roberts, of Arrowwood, Alberta passed away May 19, 2002 at the Vulcan Community Health Centre at the age of 94 years.
George was born in Eltham Kent, England to Rose and Arthur Roberts November 23, 1907. He came to Canada in 1911 with his family and settled in Gleichen. In 1916, his sister Tamson was born, and their lives changed forever when his father was killed in World War I. At the age of 10 George sold newspapers, worked in the post office and service station after school and on weekends to earn money.
George, brother Jack and sister Norah were inseparable. They were all good with slingshots, targeting windows, tin cans, gophers and sometimes each other. They made their own fun, but it had to include some risk or even outright danger. They just hoped Mother wouldn’t find out! George learned to stand up for himself and usually came out the winner, despite his small stature. He learned to hit hard and fast. When his mother married George Riches in 1920, they relocated to the Arrowwood district – living in granaries for the first year until the big brick house was built. The family grew with the birth of Ivy and later, Kathleen. Many good times were had in that house and it was filled with love and music.
George quit school at 15 to work-hauling grain and helping with the farm. In the wet fall of 1926, the stooks had sprouted and grown together. It was frustrating, tough harvest and temper often flared. George brought his boxing gloves to the bunkhouse and the fights they had let off a lot of steam. His passion for boxing continued and he boxed for the Lightweight Championship of Western Canada in 1935, but lost the match. George rode and broke horses for fun and when possible, for profit. He rode in many rodeos-Bareback, Saddlebronc and the Wild Horse Race were his events. In 1933, he helped trail a large herd of horses 100 miles to Calgary for the Stampede. Since he was already there, he entered several events and was a outrider in the Chuckwagon Races. George rode in some of the last great wild horse roundups of southern Alberta, often riding 50 or 60 miles a day from sunup to sundown. It was dangerous work; one winter, George and another hand had a scare when 100 horses bunched up on the ice in the centre of Chestermere Lake. The ice snapped and cracked but they got the herd moving in time, and continued on.
He received many injuries, some serious, in his search for adventure but he was tough and determined and just kept going. In 1930 he was lucky to get a job at the Buffalo Hills Ranch, 8 miles southeast of Arrowwood. It was 14 sections and provided work for 10 to 12 hands. He was hired for $35 a month and slept in a drafty, bedbug infested bunkhouse. Strong friendships were formed as they dealt with hard work, dust, fire and rotten weather. George hunted coyotes for the $ 5 bounty- and he honed his shooting skills stalking sparrows with a double-barrelled shotgun. One time he accidentally pulled both triggers at the same time. It nearly knocked him off his feet but he bagged two dozen sparrows and almost as many shingles! George had another story that made us laugh. He said; “Some Sundays when the men were out of the bunkhouse we would lie on our backs on the bunk and try shooting flies on the ceiling with a 22 rifle. We waited until they landed on the rafter before we shot. It took a good eye and steady nerves, as we didn’t want to shoot a hole through the ceiling! Noisy, but entertaining and we did get a few flies.”
Once when a friend was visiting at the Ranch, George and a friend offered to look after her horse. When she was ready to leave, the horse was wearing men’s pants and a straw hat complete with ribbons. Many cooks came and went at the Ranch but when Lola Armey came to cook, they hit it off right away. Although Lola had known George when they were at school, she wouldn’t have anything to do with him then, because she considered him one of the “bad boys”. They married November 1, 1937 and returned from their honeymoon with $12 to their names. They lived at the Ranch for eight more years and son Gordon was born in 1938 and daughter Arlene in 1943.
In 1947, George bought a new combine and headed for the States where farmers were desperate for harvest help. It was an adventure full of hard work, heat and frustration and he was away two months. Finishing the season at home, he had made enough money to start farming on his own. George, Lola and family moved to the home place east of Arrowwood in 1950, and the twins Barbara and Brenda were born later that year. Life was full; they were busy with family, friends and community.
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His love of farming continued all his life and he ran the combine every year, including last year when he was 93. Lola died in 1990. Even though he had lost his companion of 52 years, George continued to be interested in every aspect of life around him. He enjoyed people and his sharp memory and sense of fun made for interesting conversation. He loved to tell a story and his sense of optimism brightened your day. He was proud to be a Charter Member of the Arrowwood Lions Club formed in 1955. He was awarded Life Membership in the Club in 1994. George and Lola were very involved in the creation of “Furrows of Time” history book. The Historical Society continues to meet and he had been on the executive for many years.
George was a founding member of the Arrowwood Friendship Club and enjoyed his many friends there. Happy hours were spent there, visiting, playing cards and having a game of pool, he always enjoyed a good game.
George finished his first book “Looking Back” in 1986. It was a biography and a collection of his poetry. “Buffalo Chips and Prairie Grass” was published in 1991- more poetry and more detailed stories of his life. George was always ready to sell his books. He would shamelessly mention that he had some with him, even at weddings, funerals and other social occasions. He had completed his third book, “Magpies and Horseflies” in March of this year, and was urging the family to hurry-up with the proof-reading so the book would be ready for his 95th birthday party in November. Mind you, he didn’t think it needed much changing! George became involved with the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association in 1991 and was a lifetime member. He looked forward to annual June trips to the Pincher Creek Cowboy Poetry Gathering where he enjoyed sharing his poetry.
George passed away in his sleep May 19 after enjoying a day visiting with family and friends. He is survived by a son Gordon Roberts of Arrowwood, (special friend Wendy Peterson of High River), three daughters Arlene (Chuck) Stokes of Lomond, Barbara (Larry) Farrell of Carstairs, Brenda (Mike) Mackin of Calgary, seven grandchildren Tracy (Mark) Doram of Lomond, Darren Stokes of Calgary, Reagan Stokes (Dave Wallner) of Red Deer, Tara (Curtis) Ouellette, Jon Mackin, Lisa Farrell, Becky Farrell all of Calgary, five great grandchildren Devin, Brianna and Nicholas Doram all of Lomond, Sophia and Isabel Ouellette of Calgary, a sister Kathleen Smeeton of Victoria, brother-in-law Ernie Norton of Castor, numerous nieces and nephews.
George was predeceased by his parents, his wife Lola, a grandson Ryan Stokes, three sisters Tamson, Ivy (Bob) Seeley, Norah (Shorty) House, brother Jack (Berta) Roberts, two brothers-in-law Claude Smeeton and Chester (Thurza) Armey, three sisters-in-law Theta (Bert) Simmie, Pearl (Archie) Harrison and Irma Norton as well as many many friends.
George always met things head on and knew he would one day die. His message for all of you was “I had a GOOD time!”
Funeral Services for George were held on Thursday May 23, 2002 at the Arrowwood Community Hall at 11:30 A.M. with Rob Moore D.M. officiating.
Private Interment to follow at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, Calgary “Garden of Christus”.
Honorary Bearers members of the Arrowwood Lions Club.
Casket Bearers Jon Mackin, Darren Stokes, Alvin Roberts, Mark Doram, Jim Seeley and Ron Seeley.
In Lieu of flowers, tributes in George’s memory could be made to either the Canadian Cancer Society 2nd flr. 215-12 Ave. S.E. Calgary T2G 1A2, the Arthritis Society #105 1301-8 St. S.W. Calgary T2R 1B7 or S.T.A.R.S. 1441 Aviation Park N.E. Box 570 Calgary T2E 8M7.
Arrangements in care of VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633.
E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.