RAYMOND CYRIL BARRETT

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RAYMOND CYRIL BARRETT January 22, 1921 - January 27, 2016 Peacefully on January 27, 2016, at Maples Personal Care Home, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, Ray passed away at 95 years of age. Ray was predeceased by his mother Rosetta Bieber in 1961; his stepfather Carl Bieber in 1963; his sister Emily Muloin in 1975: his half-brother Ted Bowcott in 1981; his half-brother Dick Bowcott in 2001; his dear first wife May Violet Barrett in 1989, to whom he was married for 46 years, and his daughter-in-law Jacqueline Mona Barrett in 2004. Ray is survived by his loving wife Blanche (Bea) Muriel Barrett (nee Thomson/Dubois), his wife for the past 23 years; his son Alvin (Gloria Cotton), his son Vernon (Ellen), his daughter Valerie Poole (Bob), stepdaughter Doreen Benzies (Don), eight grandsons, 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Ray spent the first 20 years of his life living with his family on a homestead in East Braintree, Manitoba with no water, sewer, electricity or telephone. He cut wood and did odd jobs for a living. He then moved to Winnipeg and spent the next 35 years working for C.N.R. prior to his retirement as a switch foreman in 1979. To provide additional assistance with supporting his family, Ray was always working at part-time jobs, mostly painting houses and apartments. Ray was a handyman extraordinaire. There weren't many things he couldn't build or fix. He built cottages, garages, recreation rooms, kids' rocking horses, toys, wishing wells, lawn chairs, furniture, etc. Ray's favourite activities were fishing, playing cards and picking blueberries. Ray was a soft-spoken, gentle, peace-loving soul. He spent his entire life working for and playing with his family. He was an exceptional father, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband. He was the perfect role model and he proved that hard work pays off. Ray's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would like to thank his wife Bea for doing such a wonderful job of being Ray's companion and taking care of Ray for the past 23 years. We will miss you Dad (Ray), along with your wit and dry sense of humour which makes us laugh everytime we think about it. Thanks for everything. We will never forget you. A special thank-you to the health care staff at Maples Personal Care Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 2:00 p.m., at Green Acres Memorial Gardens, No. 1 Highway East at Navin Road, Winnipeg, MB, 204-222-3241. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson's Society Canada, 4211 Yonge St., Suite 316, Toronto, ON M2P 2A9, or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 30, 2016