Raymond Harold Osborne died peacefully at Points West Hospice on March 9, 2016.

Ray was born on July 22, 1924 and resided on a farm south of the hamlet of Wembley, AB very near where Pipestone Creek Park is today. Unlike his older brother and sister, Ray was not good with the horses, but give him anything with wheels and a motor and he was happy. He told stories of many times where he almost had to pack the horse TO a dance in Wembley, and then RUN home to catch the silly thing.

Ray met his wife, Esther Rosin in Hanna, AB. Both her and her sister were waitresses at the café and Ray had trouble figuring out why one time she’d talk to him and the next time it was like she didn’t know who he was. They looked VERY MUCH ALIKE. In fact, it was Esther’s sister who talked Ray into asking Esther to marry him and they decided on a double wedding.

Not long after, Dad moved Mom up to ‘God’s country’ – Grande Prairie, AB, where they lived in a little 10x20 skid shack right next door to Mom`s oldest sister. Good thing as Dad was away driving cat for rigs for long periods of time in their early years. They managed to squeeze three little babies into that skid shack (Sharon in 1955, Sandra in 1957, and Kenneth in 1958) before building a much bigger house on the same lot once baby number four came long (Lory, 1965). Auntie Leota became Mom #2 to the kids once Mom went to work to bring in extra cash.

Dad then moved up in the world and bought a water truck and expanded into tandems and finally adding a vacuum tank truck to his business. He ran Osborne Oilfield Vacuum & Tank Truck Service for over 20 years, with Mom doing the books. We all hated those early morning phone calls looking for trucks and drivers. He retired in 1990.

Dad didn’t have much time for hobbies, but he did like his toys - from dirt bikes to skidoos to riverboats. The street in front of the house was the first motorbike wheelie training ground for Kenny. It may have been scary for the neighbors to watch, but Dad would be at the front window grinning and pumping a thumbs up. When skidooing, if he couldn’t find someone to go with him, he’d go alone. One trip almost ended in tragedy – the sled flipped, pinning him underneath. He was found in time and we were sure he had hypothermia, but he just toughed it out with hot soup at home. Next he decided river boating was maybe safer – he did so love the Wapiti River. I remember no trip was ever without a memory – whether it was a spinorama when he discovered he was in the wrong channel resulting in a mud bath for his passengers, to being stuck on sandbars and anything in between. You never knew what to expect.

Dad finally slowed down and many may know him as the candy man who handed out Werther candies at the food court in the Prairie Mall – but of course, he wouldn’t just hand you one – he’d stuff it or try to sneak it into your pocket or hoodie. He sure received some funny looks.

Dad stayed in excellent health until the fall of 2015 when Mom noticed a remarked slowdown – the lawn was not quite ‘golf course’ perfect anymore. Dad went into the hospital on February 18, and to Points West Hospice on March 3^rd. Many ‘Thank You’s’ to those medical professionals who helped make his last days as comfortable as possible.

Dad is survived by Esther, his wife of 61 years and their three children: Sharon (Gerald Duffy), Sandra (Terry Heasler), and Ken (Colleen) Osborne, 7 grandkids, and 12 great-grandkids.

He was predeceased by his oldest brother Lawrence, his sister and brother in-law Myrtle and Rall Trottier, 3 nephews Brian, Darryl, and Donnie Trottier, his mom and dad Bert and Mima Osborne, and his youngest son Lory.

Dad was a simple man and was never one for pomp and circumstance. As a result, there will be no funeral service. He will be cremated and buried at a later date.

Tough to the end.

If people wish to donate, they can donate to the Canadian Cancer Society (#103 9805 97 St. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 8B9), or to the Grande Prairie Hospice Palliative Care Society (P.O. Box 21215 Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6W7).