REEVES, Cecil Edward
March 3, 1920 – Medicine Hat, Alberta
December 14, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta
Cecil Reeves of Calgary, Alberta, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the age of 99 years. He was surrounded by his companion, caregiver, children and grandchildren. Having survived the hardships of the Great Depression as a child, Cecil went on to live an exceptionally long, healthy and happy life.
Cecil was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the fourth child of
Ozro Fitch Reeves and Annie Laura Collett. He and his six siblings were orphaned at an early age, losing his mother in 1932 and his father in 1933. The family was held together in difficult circumstances when Fitch’s brother, Edgar assumed guardianship of the children and the family farm. Cecil left the dryland country of Box Springs in the Redcliff area in 1945 when he moved with Uncle Ed (“Pop”) and his brothers Stan and Max to a farm and ranch operation in Scandia, Alberta.
In 1955, he married Edna Bullock whose sister, Marjorie had married Cec’s cousin, Roland Bradley as an English war bride. Edna’s good care and hard work enabled Cecil to make the ranch a successful enterprise and the farmhouse a welcome place to visit for so many.
Having married in their 30’s, Cecil and Edna were thrilled to have four children who enjoyed a wonderful childhood on the ranch amidst cattle, horses, dogs and cats. Cecil was continually amazed by the wonders of nature. He loved all animals and treated his cattle with great care. He and Edna faithfully cared for Cecil’s brothers and sisters and their families and provided a wonderful home for Edna’s mother, Winnie as well as Pop into their old age.
A hard and conscientious worker, Cecil was always happy to have his children, and later his grandchildren, accompany him in the fields to watch him tending to his cattle and performing the intricacies of manual crop irrigation.
Cecil and Edna moved to Dreamview Village in Calgary in 1996, although he continued to farm part-time for several more years. In retirement, Cecil and Edna enjoyed the social life at their condominium. As Edna’s health deteriorated, Cecil again assumed the role of faithful caregiver; losing Edna to a stroke in 2006. He was fortunate to find love in his later years, meeting his sweetheart, Bernice Heppner in 2007. Cecil credited Bernice with giving him more than ten extra years of life, filled with happiness and companionship.
Cecil was a true joy, a blessing and a role model to so many. He leaves behind his beloved companion, Bernice, his children, Judy MacIntyre, Pam (Joe) Murphy, Marj (John) Jorgensen, and his son, Brian Reeves; his grandchildren, Alyson (Andy) Harms, Bradley Jorgensen, Aden Murphy, Liam and Rosaimee Murphy, Kieran Murphy, Veronica, and Julia Reeves; his great-grandchildren, Evangeline, Jameson and Scarlett Murphy; and many beloved nephews and nieces, friends and admirers.
A Celebration of Cecil’s Life was held on Friday, December 20, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Bow Valley Christian Church, 5300 – 53 Ave. NW, Calgary. A reception followed. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Cecil’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in honour of Cecil can be made to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, 350 Michael Cowpland Drive, Kanata, ON K2M 2W1, www.cwf-fcf.org or to the Mustard Seed Street Ministry, 102 – 11 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0X5 Telephone: (403) 269-1319, www.theseed.ca.
A tree will be planted in living memory of Cecil Reeves. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.
