Raymond David Best
December 3, 1926 – March 13, 2013
Dad was born to Catherine and William Best on December 3, 1925 in Limerick Saskatchewan. He was the second of five children. Dad attended schools in Limerick, Coderre, Regina and Moose Jaw Tech. Upon graduating high school dad enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of 17, taking his training in Nova Scotia. He was very proud to have served in the Army and was a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion. It was a highlight for Dad when his son Steve joined the Navy, making a career in the Canadian Armed Forces. After the war, Dad returned to Moose Jaw where he worked as a farm hand at Pasqua. In 1946 he took a job with the Sask Wheat Pool as an agent and it was while working at Tuxford that Dad met the love of his life, Bernice Bruce. They were married in Feb 1949, a marriage that lasted 59 years, until her passing in 2008, and rarely during this time were they ever apart. Together they raised three children Steve (Dale), Laura and Kelly (Deb). The life of a grain buyer took the family to many communities throughout the province. Each move forged new life-long friendships. In 1986, after forty years with the Wheat Pool, Mom and Dad decided it was time to retire and moved to Moose Jaw. For the next number of years they would take numerous jaunts to the states, never taking the same route. Yuma, Arizona was their favourite vacation spot. They sounded like newlyweds again as they shared the things they were doing and how much they enjoyed retirement. When Mom passed away, Dad moved to Saskatoon to be closer to family and he enjoyed trips to Calgary to see family there as well. It was nice having him closer and during his daily outings, our house was on his route. Dad enjoyed his gym memberships where he would go five times a week and ``workout``, which we know was more of a social outing as he enjoyed bantering with the younger generation. Dad was predeceased by his wife Bernice, son Steven and daughter Laura, parents Catherine and William, brothers Roy and Lloyd, and daughter-in-law Dale. He is survived by son Kelly (Deb), grandchildren Caitlin, Connor, Laura and Jeff and great-granddaughters Emily and Hailey; brpther Don (Louise), and sister Jean (Carl) Ell; and many nieces and nephews. A family service will be held at a later date. In living memory of Ray, a memorial planting will be made by W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register book at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).