HAYES: Edwin Hayes, 87 years, of Swift Current, and formally of Simmie, passed away on July 11, 2013 at the hospital in Swift Current. The funeral service was held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, July 14, 2013 from The Chapel at Warren's Funeral Home, Swift Current with funeral celebrant Bernadette Schneider officiating. The organist was Betty Hamrin. The interment service was held at Memory Gardens, Swift Current. At his request, Edwin's six grandsons were the pallbearers. He is survived by his wife of almost 61 years, Thurza; his daughter Charlene and her children John (Karly), Jane (Charles), and Tommy (Katie); his son Larry (Rhonda) and their children Emmitt and Mitchell; his son Robin (Terri) and their children Eric, Ian, and Lauryn; nieces Linda Rouleau, Ruby (Glen) Kallenberger, Sylvia (Denis) Cyrenne, Gloria Taylor, Sally (Terry) McCann and his nephew Lanny (Marion) Ross and their families. He was predeceased by his mother, Emma nee Schmidt (1941), his father Levi (Lea) (1971), infant brother William John (1917), sister Louise (Ross) Rempel (2004 ), sister-in-laws: Beatrice Kapcala (1987), Lillie Buckingham
(1980), Florence Buckingham (2009); brother-in-laws; Elmer Ross (1971), Tom Buckingham (1978), Joe Kapcala (1987), Albert Buckingham (1993), Lloyd Rempel (1997) ; and nephews: Dale Kallenberger (1973), Phil Rouleau (2012). Edwin was born on the family farm on February
14, 1926 (a Valentine's Day baby). He was named, Levi Edwin Hayes, Jr., but, always went by Edwin. He attended St. Clair School, in the Clairbank/Webb area. He had a long walk to school, in later years he rode a horse to school. He often told us stories of his school days, playing tricks on teachers and each other and loving every minute of it! He worked on the family farm with his Dad in the Illerbrun district, and then went to the Kisbey area to work for farmers. He
told us many stories about threshing and farming in the early days. He came back to the Simmie area and rented a farm from Harvey Ross. He would work on the farm in the summer and move to Medicine Hat to work in the winter. He worked for the S & T Ranch, Medicine Hat
Feeding Company, and the Ford garage, which perhaps is why he only bought Fords. During his time in Medicine Hat he met Thurza Buckingham; they fell in love and were married in the Salem United Church in Medicine Hat on November 8, 1952. They purchased the farm in the early '50s and continued to farm in the summers, and work in Medicine Hat in the winters. In 1957, they decided to stay on the farm, raising cattle and farming year round. He said all he wanted to be was a 'Farmer', and a great farmer he was. He was good with horses, cattle, and took pride in farming the land. He made sure all his grandchildren had a pair of riding boots and that they had the opportunity to ride horses. He continued to farm their own place at
Simmie, as well as his father's homestead and pre-emption. He was pleased to receive the "Family Farm Award' for the 'Hayes family farm' in 2010. It made him proud that his Dad and he had farmed that land for a combined l00 years-only two generations. Larry and Robin will be the third generation to own the land that was homesteaded. Edwin and Thurza had three children, Charlene, Larry, and Robin. Family was important to him. He spent as much time as he could with all of his grandchildren. He was proud of the young men and women they became and of all of their accomplishments. Edwin was active in the community of Simmie. He was a founding board member of the Simmie Credit Union (serving as a director for 31 years), was on the organizing committee for the skating rink that was built in Simmie in 1967, coached hockey in both Simmie and Shaunavon, rode in gymkhana with all of his family in Simmie for several years, and was an active member and helper of the St. David's United Church in Simmie. He loved baseball, hockey, rodeos, and was interested in all the sports, drama, music, and activities his children and grandchildren participated in. Edwin spent 50 consecutive years in
hockey rinks across the prairies, watching his children and/or grandchildren playing his favourite game. He was good with his hands, able to fix almost any vehicle or piece of machinery. He could build anything and enjoyed leather tooling. Most of the family has a wallet or belt that he made for them. He loved playing ball. He was interested in everyone and always had time to visit. He could talk to anyone, anytime. He was a good husband, father, and grandfather. He was kind, strong, loving, hard-working, honest, and set a perfect example of what a man should be. Donations in his memory are appreciated by the family and can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity the donor's choice. Warren's Funeral Home in care of arrangements. For further information please call 306-773-8831 : 1-800-267-6606 visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to the family in our book of condolence.