WOODS – Lloyd Patrick Woods, beloved husband of the late Mabel Emma Woods, passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital on November 7, 2018, at the age of 88 years.
Lloyd was born in Longford Mills, Ontario on July 29, 1930. His mother died when he was a toddler and the remainder of his childhood was one of neglect, starvation, and abandonment. As a young boy he lived for a time on the streets and by his own wits until he was sent to the notorious St. John’s Industrial School in Toronto. The school sent him to live with the O’Connell family of Lindsay, Ontario as a farm labourer, where he acquired a life-long love of animals and learned many useful life skills. At the age of 17, he caught a ride to Alberta where he hoped to find a job in the oilpatch and, one day, buy himself a new car. He worked for various drilling companies, including Brinkerhoff, Hawk, Parker, Husky, and Arrow. He drove truck moving rigs and worked all the jobs on the rig, quickly advancing to the position of Driller. He especially fondly remembered working high atop the rig in the position of Derrickman. In 1957, while working near Indian Head, Saskatchewan, he met a young widow Mabel Brack (nee Fruin) and her four young children. Together, they moved to Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan in 1959 and Calgary, Alberta in 1961 where Lloyd continued to work in the oilpatch. In 1970, Lloyd started a business partnership J&L Rock Bit Services and the family moved to Brooks, Alberta in 1977 to be closer to the clientele. Lloyd retired in 1985 and enjoyed his retirement, walking with Mabel and working in his yard. He moved to Lethbridge, Alberta with his daughter in 2005.
Lloyd was a man of grit and determination and was known for the force of his personality; he was generous, mischievous, short-tempered, hilarious, tactless, and always big-hearted. He loved children and animals, especially teasing them. He was always the first person to offer to help someone and vehemently stood-up for the underdog. His late wife lovingly called him a “diamond in the rough”. In his younger days he loved hunting and fishing and always had a beloved Labrador retriever at his side.
Left to mourn his absence are his daughter Shelley Woods (Darryle Thiessen) of Lethbridge; his step-children Jim (Christine) Brack of Brooks, Mavis Walyuchow of Medicine Hat and Richard (Linda) Brack of Calgary; ten grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Lloyd was predeceased by his beloved wife Mabel Woods, his step-son Marvin Brack, his parents Thomas and Sarah Woods, and his four older siblings William, Mildred, Thomas, and Emma.
His family would like to express deep appreciation to all of the staff at St. Therese Villas for their kind care of Lloyd. In the final years of his life, dementia took much from him but his indomitable spirit remained until the end.
As per Lloyd’s wishes, there will be no service. If they wish, friends can make a donation to an animal charity of their choice. For more information, please visit www.salmonandsons.ca.
