December 8, 2018
Gilbert Leonard Laycock at the age of 96, passed away in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec on Dec 8, 2018. He was predeceased by Aimee after 56 years of marriage. He will be missed by his three children: Bill (Kendra) Laycock, Andrea (Andy) Cebula and Peter (Maureen Brown) Laycock as well by his grandchildren Emily, Alexander, Scott (Christie), Paul (Elizabeth), Kimberley (Matt) and sister, Deanna Downton.
Dad was born in Nightingale, Alberta and enjoyed a childhood on the shores of Sylvan Lake AB with four siblings, Otis the calf and Kit the horse! He attended a one room school in which he had to walk or ski the many miles in blizzard conditions - uphill both directions. At the age of 17, Dad and his younger brother moved to Red Deer AB to attend high school where they bached together complete with can opener. Then at age 19, Gil voluntarily enlisted as an aero engine mechanic at the British Commonwealth Air Training base in Calgary from 1942 - 46 and in 1950 Dad graduated as an Electrical Engineer from the University of Alberta and was then employed by Cominco/West Kootenay Power until his retirement in 1984.
Dad met his wife Aimee while at a barn dance/horseback riding in Calgary and married in Dec 1948. They moved to Trail in 1950, to Penticton in 1954, and back to Trail in 1959.
Dad had been involved with Rotary International for 50 years, Trail-Warfield Stingrays Swim Club, Trail soccer, golf and curling clubs, Canadian Power Squadron and as a trustee and later as chair of the Trail Regional Hospital.
Dad enjoyed playing hockey and track and field in his younger years and graduated to downhill/cross country skiing, curling and golfing when he moved to the Kootenays. Dad also enjoyed boating the many lakes in the Kootenays and even built, from scratch, a wooden power boat. For a number of years both Mom and Dad participated in the BC Senior Games where the competitive spirit kicked in and they hauled away medal after medal (no competition, eh?).
In 2002 Mom and Dad sold the house they had built in Trail and with their adventuresome spirit loaded up the van and moved to Montreal.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Foundation or Ste. Anne Veterans Hospital Foundation who provided exemplary care for Dad.
http://www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca/
http://deretourenforce.ca/en/faites-un-don/