IAN MOORE-MORRANS

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IAN MOORE-MORRANS Ian Moore-Morrans, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, musician, author, raconteur, master machinist and craftsman, Scottish to the core, and all-around larger-than-life character, died suddenly in Winnipeg on Friday, February 22, 2019 at the age of 86. Born in Glasgow, Scotland on May 2, 1932, Ian Morrans was raised in Campbeltown on Scotland's Kintyre Peninsula during the years of the Great Depression and the Second World War. He attended Campbeltown Grammar School and then became a blacksmith's apprentice while beginning a lifelong love affair with music making (brass band and vocal) while wavering between the strictures of the Salvation Army and the "worldly pleasures" of the outside world. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1950 to 1955 as an aircraft engine mechanic and bandsman in the United Kingdom and the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt. Ian married Mary Fraser of Motherwell, Scotland, on December 29, 1954. In 1955 he began civilian life in the Glasgow area with jobs mainly in the steel industry. Two daughters were born to Mary and Ian: Audrey in 1956 and Shirley in 1958. In November, 1965 the family immigrated to Canada where Ian's working years, 1965 to 1997, found him at many different machining jobs and residences in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, including four times in Winnipeg, where he eventually retired. After retirement they moved north to the Flin Flon, MB/Creighton, SK area. In 2000 they relocated to Nova Scotia but returned to Winnipeg in 2002 where Mary, tragically and unexpectedly, died. On September 7, 2003, Ian married Gayle Moore Johannesson at Sherwood Park Lutheran Church, combining their birth family names to form a new one: Moore-Morrans. After Gayle retired in July, 2004, they moved out of the country to explore "RVing" and retirement in Mexico. At age 63, Ian started to record some of the stories he had been telling for years and creating new ones. He felt Providence had a hand in his meeting Gayle, who was then working as an editor. As he put it: "Every writer needs an editor!" Their sojourn in Mexico cemented their collaboration as Ian continued to write and perfect his craft, while Gayle began to edit his growing pile of writings. They settled into the world's largest English-speaking expatriate community on the north shore of Lake Chapala and joined the local writers' group. During the years that ensued, they formed a publishing team: Moomor Publishing. To date, they have published four books: Metal Machining Made Easy (a DIY book); Beyond the Phantom Battle: Mystery at Loch Ashie (a time-travel, Scottish adventure story); From Poverty to Poverty: A Scotsman Encounters Canada (a memoir, 1932-1970); and Jake, Little Jimmy & Big Louie (a chapter book about a boy and two birds). Gayle began collaborating on the writing as Ian's health deteriorated. She maintains a website for their writings at ianmooremorrans.com. Caring for Ian in his later years has taken a toll on editing the rest of his writings but she hopes to soon finish editing Ian's second memoir: Came to Canada, Eh? Memoirs of a Scottish Nomad (1970-2004). Ian's passion was music-making. He performed on the trumpet, cornet or trombone for over 50 years in a variety of bands in Scotland, England, Wales, Egypt and Canada. With a beautiful tenor voice, he loved to solo at any opportunity. In his later years in Canada and for two years in Mexico, Ian performed for various gatherings such as Robbie Burns' suppers, house parties, Winnipeg's Folklorama Scottish Pavilion and other Celtic ceilidhs. In his 70s while living in Mexico, Ian encouraged Gayle to join him in entertaining as a Scottish duet. By 2007 they had moved back to Canada (Penticton and then Vernon, British Columbia) where they performed as "Okanagan's Mr. Scotland and His Bonnie Lassie." A life-threatening illness starting in August, 2008 took a toll on Ian's health and vitality, curtailing his writing and musical career. In Summer, 2015, they returned to Winnipeg (Ian's sixth time) to Fred Douglas Place, a seniors' residence. By September, 2017, Ian was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer and other co-morbidities. After palliative care at home, Ian was hospitalized in December, 2018. He spent his final days at Misericordia Health Centre Interim Care, still proclaiming love for his "wee wifey" and family, his appreciation of Canada and his enduring attachment to anything Scottish. Ian was predeceased by Mary, his wife of almost 48 years; his mother Christina and stepfather Irishman Bill Moorhead of Campbeltown, Scotland; and his brother Archibald Morrans of Peterborough, England. He leaves these loved ones to mourn his passing and celebrate his life well and truly lived: his wife of 15 years, Gayle Moore-Morrans; daughter Audrey German (Eugene/Carl) of Winnipeg; daughter Shirley Lee (Brien) of Flin Flon; five grandchildren: Tammy German (Brad Falk) of Calgary; Calan German (Lisa) and Ainsley German (Phil) of Winnipeg; Ian Lee (Debbie) of Creighton, SK and Tiffany Falk (Chad) of Flin Flon; nine great-grandchildren: Leland, Hannah, Caleigh, Logan and Madison German, Lexi and Alex Lee, Brayden and Haylee Falk; three nephews in the U.K. and in-laws in the U.K., the USA and Norway. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sherwood Park Lutheran Church, Tudor Crescent and London Road, at 2:00 p.m. on March 23, 2019. Memorials are welcomed to SPLC Memorial Fund, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, the Salvation Army, Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. Condolences may be left for the family at www.neilbardalinc.com. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2019