Melvin Gordon Morrow

Its with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our Dad, Grandfather Melvin Morrow. He has gone to be with the family and friends who have gone before him.  He was the first-born child to Thomas Frederick and Sarah Jane (Wood) Morrow on April 8th, 1923 at their family farm outside of Pelly, SK.  His early years were spent on the farm, but he left in his late teens to try his hand at commercial fishing in Northern Manitoba.  When WW II erupted, he fibbed about his age and enlisted at Flin Flon, MB.  He was assigned to the Fort Garry Horse in Winnipeg and shipped off to England for training before our Gramma Sarah was informed.  He was able to make a deal with her and stayed overseas.  He was a member of the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment serving with the Kangaroos in Holland.  The Kangaroos were the precursor to the modern armoured personnel carrier.

At the end of WW II, he stayed on in Europe joining the Canadian Provost Corps providing military and public policing in post war Germany and Holland.  In 1949 he returned home to Canada settling back in with his family who had relocated to Kamsack, SK.

He had a short stint as the CO-OP Creamery Manager but joined CN Rail as a Yardman in 1950. It was during that period he met Mom (Helene Kinakin), courted her, and they married in 1950.  He was a natural at Railroading and quickly mastered yard operations.  In 1960 he took on the position of CN Yardmaster in The Pas, MB and moved our family there. 

Dad had to keep busy and soon took to repairing bicycles, lawnmowers and other small household appliances.  Again, he mastered that and turned his part time hobby into a busy business.  Adding in major appliance repairs he launched Mel’s Appliance Repairs and also began delivering furniture and appliances for the local stores in The Pas.  He did this while still working at CN Rail.  He retired from CN Rail after 36 years in1986.  His business ventures diversified, and he added in a popular courier service which covered The Pas and area for many years.  Dad sold off his business interests and entered into full time retirement, but still helped out the occasional customer with a repair or 2.

He was pre-deceased by our Mom Helene in 2001,and his Father Tom in 1978 and Mother Sarah in 2002.  Dad outlived every one of his 5 younger siblings and was hoping he could make it to 100.

He is survived by his daughter Eileen Bagg (Ric) and family, son Les Sr. (Tania) and family, daughter Bonnie Spencer and family, son Howie (Becky) and five grand daughters, four grand sons, 15 great grand kids, and one great, great grand daughter.

He will be sadly missed by all his immediate and extended family, all those who knew him, worked with him, or were

fortunate enough to have spent any about of time with him.  He was a genuine people person, knew the importance of looking after his customers, and did his best to fulfill any and all his obligations to his family and friends alike.

Dad chose to be cremated, not to have a funeral service, and will be interned in the Morrow Family Plot near Corning, SK at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No # 19 in The Pas would be greatly appreciated.

As always Mel, you put in another very long shift.  Time to rest your weary body and leave us all with the wonderful experiences, and never to be forgotten memories.