Obituary of Gary Laycock

It is with great sadness that the family announce the passing of Gary Laycock in Shellbrook Hospital on August 24, 2008 at the age of 48 years. Gary was born in Shellbrook June 16th, 1960. He was the youngest son of Stu and Betty Laycock. Gary spent his entire life in Shellbrook attending school and achieving a grade nine education. Gary suffered from a rare medical condition known as myotonia dystrophica, a genetic form of muscular dystrophy. Even with Gary's disability he lived a happy active but limited lifestyle where he enjoyed many everyday activities. Gary was well known within the town and everyone knew and understood him and his handicap and supported him in his efforts to be a member of this community. Gary loved his community and he loved many things that life had to offer, one was sports. For many years Gary played golf with his dad and brothers and also enjoyed years of curling with his dad and friends. One of Gary's proudest times in sports was when he was able to help the high school ball team with coach Jim McComas, as his assistant coach. Some of those memories are the times Gary would umpire the practices from behind the pitcher and would often get into a debate with either the pitcher or batter whether it was a strike or a ball. I think you all know who won that debate. Or as Jim recounted with me the time a hard hit ball was fielded by the third base man and with a quick throw to first base it accidentally beaned Gary in the back of the head dropping him to the ground. Of course the team rushed to Gary's side very concerned. After a minute or so Gary simply stood up and yelled out PLAY BALL!! Gary was a member of the Shellbrook Elks lodge for 20 years and was the inner guard for a few of those years. He helped out with the Elks Bingo when he could and assisted his brother Rick with bingo setups. A highlight of working with the Elks was working at the annual July 1st sports and Agricultural fair days. For many years he enjoyed assisting his father and brother managing the # 3 ball diamond. Many people didn't know the inner side of Gary. He had many talents, here are a few. Gary always enjoyed playing various card games, but the one he had a passion for was bridge. He was an accomplished duplicate and contract bridge player. He was a member of the Shellbrook and Prince Albert bridge clubs actively playing as much as he could. Rick recounted a time that they were out visiting family on a holiday to B.C. While walking down a sidewalk in downtown Vancouver Gary noticed that there was a bridge club, so he convinced Rick that they should see what kind of club it was, so in they went, they played an afternoon of bridge and a few months later they received notice that they had earned a few points towards their international points total. Gary achieved 21 gold points reaching 750 international master points which I'm told is an outstanding achievement in bridge playing. Over the years Gary and his #1 bridge partner Rick, won three gold placeings in tournaments at Regina, Moose Jaw and Winnipeg. It should also be noted that Gary was also a good chess player and welcomed a challenge from anyone and I can tell you I never won a game against him. Another outstanding trait of Gary was his memory, he had an excellent memory. He loved to memorize poems verses, songs and jokes which he did with ease. One of his favorites was the song by Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald". Gary could recite the entire lyrics perfectly. Needed a joke he could tell you one, he would keep Jim's ball team in stitches on those road trips to other schools telling joke after joke. Gary also had a passion for Naval military history especially of the World War 2 era. He took a keen interest in the naval ships of that era, studying their history from the size of ships to their gun power to what role they played in the war. His interest of these vessels inspired him to build models of just about every major vessel that was used in the Second World War. As he studied this history it led him to another interest, map reading. Gary enjoyed to read and study various maps of the world and many maps and atlas'. On the lighter side, Gary enjoyed his television, watching many movies, game shows and of course sports. He loved the Philadelphia Flyers and in his very made up mind there was no better team and was always ready to debate the issue. He new every player on the team and followed them every season. He liked them so much that unknowing to Rick he started taping every flyer game he watched. When Rick found out it of course stopped because it was going to cost a fortune in video tapes. Gary wasn't impressed but Rick won this one. He always watched his flyers when ever he could. The Montreal Expos were his all time favorite ball club but he had to adopt the Blue Jays when the Expo franchise seized to exist. He enjoyed watching lots of hockey and ball on television and at the local level. Gary was the approachable type, he wasn't shy to strike up a conversation or to participate in it as well. He loved his community, Gary will be missed for his wit, humour and candor and I'd like to end with one of Gary's favorites. There are those that make things happen. There are those who watch what happens. And there are those who wonder what happened. Gary leaves to mourn, His brother, Rick Laycock of Shellbrook, His cousins, Clark (Lenore) Pepper of Shellbrook, Maureen Pepper (Dave) of Prince Albert, Dixie (Carl) Weiss of Parksville BC, Margo Sterling-Laycock of Parksville BC, Gayla (Ted) Strong of Parksville BC, Maurice (Dana) Laycock of Sechelt BC, Greg Laycock of Gibson's Landing, BC; Numerous aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by A brother, Dean Laycock, His parents, Betty (nee: Pepper) and Stu Laycock, His grandparents, Amy and Frank Pepper and George and Esma Laycock, A cousin, Graham Pepper. The funeral service was held at St. Andrew's Anglican Church on Thursday, August 28 at 1:00 pm with Rev. Norbert Haukenfreres as officiant. The Eulogist was Clark Pepper. The Organist was David Hjertaas. The Pallbearers were Ted Mazurkewich, Terry Martin, Dave Mulgrew, Jim McComas, Perry Sommerfeld, Terry Simpson. Memorial donations may be made to the Shellbrook and Districts Health Services Renovation Project. The Interment was in Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Prince Albert.