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Arthur "Morris"

DUNN

Oct 8, 1918 - August 24, 2011


Son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, neighbour and self-proclaimed "luckiest man on earth". He never won a lottery. He loved and was loved, worked for a living in rewarding occupations and always made the effort to be helpful and kind to others. In his later years Morris liked to share his memories of life out on the bald prairie near Dorothy, Alberta, school days in the "suburbs" of Calgary, farming in the Winfield and Pendryl area and storekeeping in Alder Flats. His favourite stories, however, were of how he met his wife of nearly sixty years, Eileen, at a dance in England during the war, how they wrote letters to each other, but then stopped until a tea cup reader told him to write again and then finally five years after the war, she came to Canada.

Upon his return from WWII, Morris took some courses in carpentry. He helped build the Esso Station at Alder Flats, Ruby's Café at Buck Lake, and his own home. In his retirement, this love of building and helping others saw him assisting with the construction of the Alder Flats community centre. Working with wood also became a hobby. Many lucky family members and friends were the recipients of his handcrafted furniture, wooden toys and beautiful intarsia.

Over the years, Morris contributed to his community wherever he could. He and Eileen were instrumental in bringing rural electric and telephone to the Pendryl area. He was a member of the Alberta Apiarists Association, and helped researchers with the discovery of a disease in beehives, later named the Winfield Disease. He was on the Alder Flats Gas CoOp board, served on the Alder Flats Community Society, and Legion and as a Scout leader. In his retirement he was a member of the Breton Victims' Services, helped build signs and the shelter for the Rose Creek trail system west of Alder Flats and was still volunteering at the Thrift store in Drayton Valley at the age of 90.

He and Eileen raised three children, Philip (and his wife, Cathy) of Onoway; Mary (and her husband, Beauchamp Colclough) of Rimbey; and Ian (and his wife, Pauline) of Drayton Valley and were blessed with four grandchildren - Sarah, Denielle, Joe and Lindsey.

After retiring, Morris and Eileen enjoyed travelling, gardening and their annual trips out to the Okanogan to pick fruit for the family. You were always welcome to enjoy a cup of tea and share your adventures and challenges with them or enjoy conversation over a game of cards.

Morris also shared his appreciation of the wonder and power of Mother Nature with those around him, whether he was farming, gardening, hiking and camping, cross country skiing or standing in the living room window watching a gentle breeze or a thunder storm. So when Mother Nature took her course and reclaimed this beautiful man, he did not want people to mourn, but rather to remember him as the luckiest man on earth.


Family and friends of Morris are welcome to drop by the home of

Ian and Pauline Dunn in the Drayton Valley

area for tea or coffee on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m.

to share any fond memories they may have of Morris.

Phone 1-780-542-6819 or 780-542-0092 for directions.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be

made to the charity of your choice.



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