Home | Home and Hearth | The Beyond Logic Team. | The love of my life. | My Beliefs

It's funny, you always count on one man to be your hero.
For a girl it's the man you model what your future man of your life is going to be like, or not be like.
I was lucky. Though my father wasn't always around, I was fortunate enough to  have his role model to look up to.
Now, after two years I still ask myself " Would grandpa be proud? Would he like the man I have choosen? "
And as I sit here looking through old pictures and running down memory lane, I think he would be. He would know that the man I am with now is a good, sturdy and loving "young man".
Although I had always hoped that when I get married that it would be my grandpa that would walk me down the aisle, I am happy he is not in pain and is watching over those he loves.
So, with this intro, I hope you see the kind, gentle and great man that I am proud to call my Grandpa.

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Grandpa and his famous cowboy hat..Note, his tilted hat .AKA " power lock"

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OBITUARY

Ireland

Elsworth George ( Red)

January 22, 1934 - February 2 2003

Elsworth George Ireland was born to Will and Madeline Ireland, January 22, 1934, in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.

Red went to work at a young age and worked at anything that made a dollar. He did not let having 1 blind eye stop him from anything.

His Uncle Joe gave him his first horse when he was 8 years old, and from then until 2002 he pretty well had at least one horse or more around, even if he had to board them out or rent pasture. He loved to show off his pinto ponies pulling a decorated buggy in all the area parades.

He worked in the oilfield in the 1950's.

He has tried his hand at farming in Sask., British Columbia and Alberta.

He worked in feed mills, sawmills, dairy farms, paving companies and has done almost everything in the oilfield.

Red farmed on Hesketh Road and worked at Bumper Development Compressor Plant near Carbon from 1977 until 1994, when the Doctors would no longer let him work because of all his health problems.

Red will be remembered as an honest, hard worker, who loved his horses and farming. He always felt that his off farm employment was his priority and made sure that, that work was done first and well. He enjoyed going to the monthly Low Vision Support Group at Three Hills.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of almost 25 years, Ruth of Carbon Ab; 1 daughter, Donna (Mark) Snider of Black Foot, AB; 1 son, Larry Ireland;

3 stepchildren: Ken (Christine) Ireland of Verdant Valley, AB. Lenora Ireland of Drumheller AB.: Bill (Jane) Boulanger of Vernon B.C. 3 brothers: Gordon (Joan) Ireland of Oliver B. C., Mervin (Carol) Ireland of Cudworth SK, Vernon (Eileen) Ireland of Wakaw, Sk.; grandchildren; Barry, Marilyn, Jason, Brandy, Marie, Kailen, Brooke, Leslie, C.J. and Dustin; nephews ; Nelson, Preston, Dean and Darren; and nieces; Debra, Tannis and Jaime; Sister in law Joan Dixon of Sundre AB, brother in law; Jim (Flo) Randell of Prince Albert Saskatchewan, .as well as many cousins and friends.

GOOD OLD DAYS ON THE FARM

Taken from Job, Old Testament

Job had experienced a lot of hard times.He had lost his property, his family, and then he had taken ill.A friend had come to comfort him, and said "You’re going to make it Job. You’re going to come thru this. And live to a ripe old age."             Ye shall come to your grave and rest, like a sheaf of wheat.Comes to the threshing floor in its season.

Red experienced a lot of hard times too. And came thru many difficulties. Like growing up in the dirty thirties in Saskatchewan, Farming in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Alberta.Losing his livestock and barns in a fire, losing loved ones. Coping with ill health and finally cancer.But he was strong and determined, and he went to his grave. As a sheaf of wheat goes to the threshing floor.

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Gramp, his brother and thier dog

Dear Grandpa,

When I was a kid you gave me the chance to learn how to farm and how to run the whole operation. I was not always there all the time due to the fact that we lived so far away. But in the end I were so close. Because no matter how many miles I was away I was really only a prayer away, as I lived on in your heart. You taught me how to care for my pony. And as I graduated from riding you taught me how to drive the team. You may not be here but you will always be in my heart no matter how far away you are. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, because I’m glad that I had the chance to know my dear grandfather and had the chance to grow up with him. You have always meant so much to me, and now your spirit has gone to where it can always be free and can chase the wild mustangs through the hills. But I will not forget you. As I grow up and get married and have children of my 0wn I will always remember that without you I would not have as much wisdom to pass on to the next generation. Whether it is about horses or life in general. Because I am a better person because of you and your wisdom. And as long as I am alive I will use the knowledge I gained from you and hopefully will so will everyone else. There is so much to say and so little time to say it in. There are those who will be going to be saying goodbye to you today forever but for me, I’m never going to truly say goodbye because you live in my heart and my soul. Whether I go on to become a veterinarian, truck driver, horse trainer, or whether I follow in your footsteps and raise horses, cattle, swine, sheep and grain. But no matter what you gave me my first glimpse into the world of animals. Forever you will be there guiding me, for I love you and I’m never going to forget you come day or night. You mean a lot to me and I am not truly saying goodbye but merely good luck and I’ll see you one day. You shall be happy. Because cowboys are truly home on the range. Good luck and don’t forget about me because I will never forget you. Gone but not forgotten. You live on in so many of us. Good luck with the new challenges you shall face. Just keep on smiling. You’ll find your mustang and you will go on riding forever through the clouds and over the hills. By Leslie

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Coyboy on horseback, 7 mile creek Canada

A Cowboy, A Grandpa and A Friend.

He loved horses and he wanted his grandchildren to do the same. Each received their own horse. Mine was Taffy. I will always cherish her as my best friend, as Grandpa gave her to me.

I have learned many things from Grandpa. He was there when I learned how to drive the team. He was there to show me how to harness a horse properly. And he was there when Taffy bucked me off. And he made me get back on.

Not only did he teach me things, but he was there and caused a lot of my "Firsts". The first horse I rode was his stubborn Fly. My first horse came from Grandpa. The first time I ever saw and helped pull a calf. And the first and so far the last time I’ve ridden a Thoroughbred.

He always tried to scare us as kids. I remember going for baths and being scared of getting wet, as Grandpa always said, "You’ll melt like sugar, and become weak if you get wet." He always managed to stop us from crying by threatening he’d, "Jump down our throats and dance on our gizzard," even if we didn’t have gizzards.

But even if Grandpa did scare us a little, he was there. He was there to confide in, learn from, and just to talk to. And I know he’ll find a mustang and ride like the wind in the clouds. But he’ll always watch over us. Every time I ride a horse and the wind rushes through my hair, I’ll know he’s with me!

A Cowboy, A Grandpa, and A Friend.

With Love,

CJ

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Grandpa, Queen and her colt

To Grandpa,

Good-bye. I’ll miss you. I’ll miss the way you got mad at Dad. I’ll miss the way you swore. I’ll miss the way you talked and I’ll miss the way you told us you’d jump down our throat and dance on our gizzard. I love you grandpa and good-bye.

Love, Dustin

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This is a classic hamming for a picture that only grandpa would be able to pull off.

Life With Grandpa    By Marie.

Grandpa always gave Brandy and me a hard time. He'd say come on boys lets go do chores. I’d say grandpa I’m not a boy. As I got older Id tease him about his worshin. I’d tease him it was about time for him to learn to wash. When I was ten my grandma had bought me a dinosaur clamp and grandpa was sitting beside me having a cigar when I was playing with it so I grabbed the cigar right out of his mouth with it. Grandpa and everyone started laughing. The last time I drove with grandpa, grandma told me don't talk to grandpa he has to concentrate on his driving but she forgot to tell grandpa not to talk to me. He would talk to me and I had to answer him. The main thing I said was grandpa the ditch as he swerved from one side of the road to the other and he said I pay taxes on both sides of the road and he sure used them. He was a great man and we will all miss him and think of him often.   

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Look for the little girl making a face, i can garuntee it will be me.As always beside my grandpa.

Marilyn’s Poem for Grandpa

My Grandfather was a great man. It’s hard to see him go.  The Pain of his life, the fear before he died. The pain is over.   He is in our hearts and souls. Never to forget him.  

The memories are there the good and the bad.He has taught us a lesson or two.Look at the good times.He is now in a better place then here.He no longer has to deal with the pain and horrors of this world.

We say good-bye to him, but remember he loved us all and he still will.He looks down on us today and would want us to remember him as he was so many years ago,

We love you Grandpa

Please rest in peace.

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Always the romeo

Quote from Barry

Quote from Barry: " Grandpa would pick your ass, just for the sake of picking your ass."

Young Gentleman
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Awww. Wasn't he a cutie?

And Into the sunset.  - by Brandy

There are a few things that make this cowboy special. The memories I have and that I am gonna share are precious and very much a touch of Grandpa.

For instance, he always took every chance he got to remind me of how when I was a small girl (just past crawling and maybe for a few years beyond), when it came time to feed the animals, we would climb into the cab of his truck, with Badger, and head out. Every time he got out of the truck, he would tell the dog to watch me. When I got up to check on what Grandpa was doing, Badger would lay a paw on me and MAKE me sit back down. All I remember is that after a certain point, I hated that dog. I didn’t remember why. But Grandpa always said that I would refuse to get in the truck if the dog was going.

Then he would tease me about how when I was just past the age of two, Grandma and Grandpa and my parents headed back into the house for a cup of coffee leaving me on a horse. My mom had told me that they would be right back and if I had any problems, just holler. They just got out of sight and I hollered " get me off this... horse." Or wait I am missing a word or so. But hey..I had to of learned it somewhere. With grandpa always cursing about how the pigs were in his way at feeding time.

Then he would tease me about how we were working one day and Grandpa said it was about quitting time and I hung up my hammer and told it to work. And that Grandpa and me were going for a beer. Once again, in a more colorful way.

He would also tease me about how I hated the motor home, because I would fall asleep in it. Or how Barry and I always got into trouble when we were together. Like breaking the glass on Grandma’s green house.

I will always remember how on the weekends, he would take me along on trips to check out meters and such. He would usually make it up to me by taking me to the rabbit-hole and getting me either an ice cream or a root beer.

I remember how every chance I got I was in the wagon and in parades with grandpa.

I remember how when I threw a temper tantrum, he would come up to me and say " oh good we’re doing a jig." And if I kept on, he would join me in jumping up and down. I would usually stop.

A few years ago I had a report to do on what my Grandparents remembered about growing up. Well, I asked grandpa: what do you like most about life, he laughed and said " the women."

I remember how if I didn’t want to eat something, he would tell me it puts hair on my chest. At about the age of ten I got smart, I looked at him and told him that girls don’t want to have hair on their chest, boys do.

I don’t think I will ever forget a thing I have learned about horses, even though I must admit that after I moved away to Ontario I KINDA forgot how to saddle a horse. But hey that shall be our little secret.

I remember how after he had his stroke I would phone to talk to grandma, and when grandpa would ask who she was talking too, no matter how tired he was, he would get on the phone to bug me about everything.

I know that there is one cowboy that has finally done, as he always wanted... He has picked out the finest horse and has rode into the sunset.

So with that in mind, I wish him a happy journey and many great rides to come.

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psst.. Can you see a lil person in a pink dress??? YAY! ITS ME!

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This is the most recent picture i have of me and my grandpa, taken Aug.1994

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Fisherman

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The lil carseat in the back..That was me.. I was always with my grandpa when i could be.

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Look!! its me and grandpa again!

These were some of the leaflets inside the handout for his funeral. He personally choose these. And for those who knew him, these would fit right into his sense of humour... And i say this with love.

To Remember Me.                                                            The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress locatedin a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying.

At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes,my life has stopped.

When that happens, do not attempt to install artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed.

Let it be called the Bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise,a baby's face, or love in the eyes of a woman.

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

Explore every corner of my brain.

Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that someday,

a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.

Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all prejudice against my fellow man

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.

If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

 

 

 

 Soul Search

I've only one life; it soon will be gone.
What will remain of things that I've done?
Someone who sympathized? Someone who shared?
Am I so obsessed with desire to succeed,
that my eyes are blinded to someone in need?
Can I put on hold my ambitions, my dreams
to help a weak brother boost his self esteem?
Am I so preoccupied that I can't find room
to share a friend's sorrow, dispel a friend's gloom?
Would I stop my dashing around here and there,
to help out a neighbour? To show that I care?
Do I lend an ear to someone who's grieved?
Can I listen silently until they're relieved?
Or do a cascade of words get in the way
of the message of love God wants me to portray?
Do I seem absorbed by things that I own?
Am I swallowed up in my own little throne?
Or can I show joy at friend's great success?
Can I honestly join him in happiness?
When my time on this earth has come to an end,
will my epitaph read, "You were a true friend?"
Or will it have words that go something like this:
"Here lies a dead body that no one will miss?"

by Helen Dowd.

 

What God must think!?

(Someone has suggested that in our permissive society, some would change the Ten Commandments to read as follows:)

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before thyself, for thy pleasure and amusement is all that counts.

2. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it free for golf, fishing, football games on television, the shopping plaza, bowling etc.

3. Thou shalt not bow down before any graven image except that which is graven on the coin of the realm.

4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother, or thy Father and his new wife, or thy Mother and her new husband, or the "good friends" of either.

5. Five days shalt thou labor, unless thou hast a strong union, in which case four is plenty.

6. Thou shalt not commit adultery, unless it is "significant and meaningful".... or being photographed in full color for showing in movie theatres from coast to coast.

7. Thou shalt not kill any party by going home before thy mind is blown on booze, pot etc.

8. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's responsibilities, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's wife if she be fat and ugly, nor thy neighbor's 1967 Ford, nor his hand lawn mower nor anything that is they neighbor's which is not in good working condition.

9. Thou shalt not steel thyself to tasks which are unpleasant.

10. Thou shalt not bear false witness except when it is necessary to get a government handout, qualify for service in a public bar, or save thy skin in a court of law.

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If Grandpa had his way, he would of danced through all his fights with my grandmother.

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Dance 2-3

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Shuffle! Sweep her off her feet gramps

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Smile for the birdy!

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The cutest couple

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Even while figting, they still pose for a pic.

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Gone Country! YEHA!

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Coffee, tea, crumpets?