Alan Essex
Posted By Egan Funeral Home On October 13, 2020 @ 8:22 pm In Bolton Area,Obituaries | 11 Comments
Peacefully at Headwaters Health Care Centre, Orangeville on Friday, October 2, 2020, Alan (Butch) Lancelot Essex, Orangeville, in his 97th year, passed away; predeceased by Elinor Jane Essex, his loving wife, of 67 years. Loving father of David and his wife Gail Essex, Mississauga; Karin Stinson, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Craig and his wife Debbie Essex, Penetanguishene. Cherished grandfather of Kevin and Melanie Essex, Kelowna; Darryl and Sonia Essex, Whitby; Starr and Corey McLachlan, Squamish; Ella and Scott Wray, Yellowknife; Cleo and Will Scott, Yellowknife; Bailee and Pat Dumouchelle, Orillia; Walker Essex, Barrie. Adored great-grandfather of Abygale and Clara Essex, Kelowna; Brooklyn Essex, Whitby; Ula and Stig McLachlan, Squamish; Barrow and Essex Wray, Yellowknife; Rielle, Lani and Atlas Scott, Yellowknife; Brantley and Boyd Dumouchelle, Orillia. Dear brother of the late Stella Lake, Mable Axworthy and Joan Yates. Dear brother-in-law of the late Nettie Wren, Marion Hadley, Alison Hesketh, Isabelle Rescoral and James Suttie. Fondly remembered by his sixteen nieces and nephews. Alan was born in Toronto in 1924. He went to General Mercer Public School and did very well competing with the Roto Chess Club. Alan had a love of chess throughout his life but he also embraced an assortment of sports and activities wherever he and Elinor were living, be it bowling, golf, shuffleboard, taking walks, dancing, but most important ‘swimming’. Alan’s pride and many fond memories were spent with the RCAF. Many friends were forever friends; he took very good care of these friends, … all his friends. Alan spent much of his work life at Massey Furguson. During this time Alan and Elinor lived on Redberry Pkwy, when, at the beginning, there were no signs nor street lights, so he was very active in developing and caring for his neighbours and neighbourhood. Alan’s carpenter dad built this, their first house. The carpentry never left Alan. He built their cottage, furniture, toys for his grandchildren; it was never ending and never daunting and always meticulous. He ‘loved’ woodworking, one of his biggest passions.
Alan and Elinor spread out a little more and embraced the countryside, (“smell the pine”), when they moved near Bolton; there he cultivated a soft spot for gardening and birding, particularly ‘owling’. He worked for General Freezer in those days, always learning and dabbling in inventing. Upon retirement he and Elinor spent winters in Panama City Beach, enjoying the warmth, still woodworking and making new friends. In their last home together, Alan and Elinor lived at Tecumseth Pines near Tottenham. There he took on the challenge of growing the biggest sunflowers; he spread the love and ‘seeds’ of flowers among many. Church has always weaved through Alan’s life. He would find the local church and take stillness from it. Alan’s last home was The Lord Dufferin in Orangeville. There Alan would plant amaryllis bulbs, grow them, put them in a plant stand that he designed and made himself, and then gift them. More important, Alan was very infectious when he regaled his fellow resident friends with his ‘Good Morning’ song, sung every morning after breakfast. He proudly shared all his stories of life with them. These stories inevitably were about his model T ford, (he ‘loved’ his cars), airforce days, his children and all the ‘adventures’ that they took him on. During all of this time one thing remained constant and paramount and that was his beloved Bluewater Beach ‘cottage’, … so much memory making. It was ‘at the cottage’ that Alan got to combine all of his other passions of woodworking and inventing, (the infamous ‘indestructible’ raft building and apartment sized bird houses), growing and loving trees and swimming, (giant Massey innertube water fun), and floating and singing at the same time. He listened with earnest attention to every detail. He always had time for his grandkids, serenading them with his ‘Good Morning’ song, swimming together or walking together to the corner store for ice cream and the paper. He continued these close relationships right into adulthood, always genuinely interested. Alan loved life. He loved and cared for ALL his family, with all his big, generous heart. Ever, Alan will be remembered, “we shall overcome”. Bless his soul. Alan’s family would like to send a huge thank you to all management, staff and volunteers at the Lord Dufferin Centre Retirement Residence. Also, huge warm thanks for the very kind, and professional care and love from Barbara Holmes, for so many years, above and beyond.
Arrangements by Egan Funeral Home, Bolton (905-857-2213).
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Condolences for the family of “Alan Essex”
Dear Craig and Debbie,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father. What a lovely tribute. It sounds like he touched a lot of lives.
Marilyn Conway Jones
Our condolences to all the family. What a great guy! What an assume uncle! This ‘obit’ is such a wonderful tribute to my uncle Butch. I’m glad I had a chance to chat with him, last November, while he was in his room at the Lord Dufferin. He was still upset that his driving licence had been taken away! 🙂 I mentioned to Karin that my ear was sore, as we had such a long telephone conversation, talking about the ‘old’ days…..no politics or religion though! 🙂 Life goes on, but I’ll sure miss him….never to be forgotten.
David, Gail, Karin, Craig and Debbie. what a fantastic tribute to your Dad. Uncle Butch was full of fun loving adventures. His boisterous laugh could be heard from the other room. I have so many fond memories of him and of the cottage. I remember rolling down the sand hill behind the cottage in the tires. He taught me to float on the lake on my back, he seemed to be able to do this for hours. My condolences to all of you, Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.
I am thinking about you and sending love.
Lori and John Johnston
I have spent so many hours with this wonderful man and I don’t believe there was anything we didn’t chat about. His interest in current events… history… science… people… family and friends was always foremost in his mind and always gave us lots to talk about…. plus those many special personal concerns and interests that I won’t mention!
He had a marvellous engineering mind with attention for detail that sometimes drove us nuts! But that was Alan… if it was worth doing … it was worth doing right!
It has been an honour and a pleasure to care for both Alan and his ‘sweetheart’ Elinor for over the last 10-12 years!
He often told me that I was so ‘good to him’…. and my answer always was…’ Some people are easier to be good to that others!’…. and that he was!
Heartfelt condolences to family…
I will miss you Alan…. Rest well my friend….
I was so blessed to have such a wonderful man as my Uncle. Gregarious, a lover of life, a consumate prankster, a twinkle in the eyes. When things went sideways for my brother and I the Essex family was always there for us.
It wasn’t all fun and games though… I remember when he convinced me to scour the sand around the perimeter of his newly build cottage for all the nails he lost building it. He proposed to pay me a nickel for each one I found. I spent hours digging in the sand. I thinknI made a buck twenty.
My wife and I want to express are condolences to the Essex family et al.
Keep well and safe.
David, Karen and Craig. Our condolences to you and extended families. Your Dad was a great friend to my Dad at MF and right up to Dad’s passing in 2015. My fondest memories are of our Dad’s joking around and laughing to tears!
Dear Karin, David, Craig and family –
Our dads were great pals, and as couples our parents had great times together, too. It feels like the end of an era with Al’s passing. He was a super friend to my parents and our family and such fun – even my daughter raved about the fun she had in Florida with her new friend, Al, back when they spent time there in the 90’s. I remember him instigating shenanigans and getting us kids laughing at Wasaga and Loon Lake. What a wonderful guy he was! I’m spiriting you all hugs and our warmest thoughts – he’ll be missed, I know.
With love, Judy Farrant and family
Dear David, Karin and Craig. It was just a few days ago that I was relating how well houses were built just after the war and remembering how much I loved your house on Redberry. I had no idea Butch’s dad was responsible for this lovely home. My times in that home with you all remain forever special and are indelibly imprinted. What a lovely tribute to your Dad! Such a special man to so many. I read everyone’s comments and they brought back so many memories. Ian’s reference to the twinkle in his eye and Lori’s of his boisterous laugh but best of all was your reference to his Good Morning song at the cottage. He so loved it there and made it such a happy place to be. I remember the blasting out of Connie Francis’s ‘Vacation’ as he did a little dance to start his every year. My times there with you all are lovely memories cherished . You were so fortunate to have him in your lives for so long and he was equally fortunate to be blessed with so many grand kids and great grandkids to share his love of life with. He passed on to each of you a zest for life, discipline, humour, kindness and the importance of family in your lives. Love to you all.
David, Karin & Craig I just learned of your dad’s passing. I have such fond memories of our families times together. Jim and I had a visit with him at the Lord Dufferin and had a great time reminiscing. He was very special and will be missed
Love to you all Barb (Dunc & Ev)
David, Karin & Craig I just learned of your dad’s passing. I have such fond memories of our families times together. Jim and I had a visit with him at the Lord Dufferin and had a great time reminiscing. He was very special and will be missed
Love to you all Barb (Dunc & Ev)
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Karin your dad sounds simply amazing very much like my dad was and your kids and grandkids have been blessed to have had him in their lives. Now I know it’s in your genes to be such a great friend. Sorry for your loss and I’m here whenever you need to talk.