GREAVES – With great sadness we announce the passing of Ray Greaves on Wednesday October 31, 2018 at the age of 99 years. Ray was born and raised in Medicine Hat. Growing up on Riverside, he often told stories of swimming in the South Saskatchewan River and camping and hiking along the cliffs. In school, he excelled at numbers and went on to study accounting at a local college. In 1940, he was among the first of his friends to enlist in the Canadian Army at the start of WWII. He took his basic training in Winnipeg and then married his sweetheart Isabel Hopkins in 1941. He was then deployed to Newfoundland where in St. John’s he was a supervisor of the payroll department of the Armed Forces for the duration of the war. In 1946, when the war was over Ray moved his family to Brooks and worked for 17 years as the accountant for Asgrow Feed Co. After working for two other local companies, he established his own accounting business in 1972. Ray finally retired in 1997 after a long and rewarding career. He loved working in his gardens and shop. His annual fly-fishing trip to Dee Lakes with friends for many, many years was another source of numerous stories. Ray and Belle loved entertaining and their home was always a welcome stop for friends and relatives passing through Brooks. The warmth and love shown to so many will fondly be remembered. Ray was an active member of the community representing Brooks on the Medicine Hat Regional Planning Commission for 13 years, he was a mentor for SPEC Association for Children and Families and was a proud lifelong member of the Brooks Masonic Lodge #73. Ray was predeceased by his wife Belle in 1999, his grandson Brad in 2009 and his daughter Lily-Anne in 2017. He is survived by his son Allan of Vancouver, son-in-law Derek Blatch, granddaughter Karyn Norden (Herb) and great-grandson Cooper Norden all of Brooks, and many loving nieces and nephews. The family is forever grateful to the caring staff at Orchard Manor and the Brooks Health Centre. Their support and excellent care will always be remembered. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. If friends so desire, memorial donations in memory of Ray may be made directly to the Brooks & District Health Foundation at Bag 300, Brooks, Albert T1R 1B3 or at the memorial page set up for Ray at www.thomsfuneralhome.com. For further information, to leave a message of condolence or to light a candle in memory of Ray, please visit Ray’s memorial page or call Thom’s Funeral Home at (403) 501-1010.
