Gordon McLaren

McLAREN, Gordon ""Dode"" 1931 - 2011 A lifelong resident of the Green Island district, south of Fairview, Alberta, Gordon James McLaren passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at the age of 79 after a brief battle with bladder cancer. Dode was born September 14, in Fairview, Alberta, to Sybil (Foster) and Don McLaren and was their only child. His Mom died when he was only six; soon after his father went away to work on the building of the Alaska Highway. After his Mother's death Dode went to live with his Aunt Lil and Uncle Laurie (LE) McAuley. He joined their children Murd and Sybil (Sundby), who accepted him as their brother. Dode attended classes in the one-room Green Island school house, which still stands today. For the remainder of his life Dode was a fixture in the Green Island district, integral to the fabric of the community and to the families who lived there past and present. After grade 10, Dode started farming . Some say that ""Dode"" and ""John Deere Tractor"" are synonymous. In the 1950's he attended tech school in Edmonton, taking motor mechanics. He completed his diploma later, at SAIT, in 1960-1961. In between these two educational journeys he met the love of his life, Alison Archer, while working at the locker plant in Fairview. They were married in 1956 and soon children began arriving, Connie in 1958, Dave in 1959, Donnie in 1961 and JoAnn in 1963. When Dode was not farming or fixing things, he enjoyed a number of leisure activities. Fishing was high on the list. Whether it was at Lesser Slave Lake, Finley Bay, Alaska or Terrace he just really loved to fish. He enjoyed countless camping trips with good friends. Curling, baseball and hockey were other favourite sports. The written word drew him like a bee to honey; a voracious reader of a wide range of topics; both fiction and non-fiction. He was also a great story-teller himself. Many times, reigning from the lazy-boy in the corner of the living room, he would regale one and all with tales of past adventures. A great sense of humor was part and parcel of his personality from the very beginning. As a husband Dode was par excellence, loving and supportive, generous, hard-working and loyal. As a father Dad was devoted as any. He was a disciplinarian but never hurtful, a man of few words but the words spoken should well be heeded. A family friend recently said that ""Dad was a prime example of how a Dad should be"". Dave, Jo and I agree. Dad was pretty much perfect. As a grandfather Dode took great delight in being with Emily, Laurel, Mark and Garrett. He taught them many things which will hold them in good stead for the future. Dode had a great love of airplanes and flying. However a pilot's license was not in his future due to a heart condition. We would like to think now that he has got his own wings. His passing will leave a huge void in many lives but we take comfort in knowing his legacy lives on. Dode McLaren was predeceased by parents Sybil in 1938 and Don in 1953; and by his son Don McLaren in 2000. He is survived by his wife Alison, daughter Connie (Larry Dziuba), Laurel and Garrett of Calgary, Alberta; son Dave of Fairview; daughter JoAnn (Terry Aman), Emily and Mark of Kitscoty, Alberta; and half-sister Donalda (Dennis Bell) and family of Carmen, Manitoba. Funeral Services for the late Gordon McLaren were held February 15, 2011 from St. Paul's United Church with Rev. Harold Imes officiating. Interment followed at the Waterhole Cemetery.