Lorne Crutchley

Dear Dad,
I miss you so much and I wasn’t ready to let you go... You did your best to prepare me and I realize now that I was never going to be ready. I am so grateful for the time we had together and for the memories we shared. Thank you for loving me and accepting me and encouraging me to be who I am. Thank you for the fishing trips and camping trips, the card games and time spent cooking and baking or just sitting together enjoying our morning coffee. I hold those memories close and your legacy will go on.

Please give my love to Grandma (Ethelda Crutchley, nee Hewer) and Grandpa (‘Jack’ John Joseph Crutchley), Auntie Diane Dunham (nee Crutchley) and Uncle Ron Crutchley. I will hold your memory alive for Uncle Larry (Crutchley). I am so glad that we were able to travel together just last month. I know you were sad to have missed the chance to say goodbye to your brother Ron but I trust that he was waiting for you with open arms. I knew you were struggling with the long journey to Kelowna and I am so glad that you and my Ken went for a drive down memory lane and that we had the chance to stop and visit with Uncle Ken Dunham and Uncle Larry before we returned home. We both knew what a toll that took on you and that it was most likely our last trip together. I am so grateful that you had the chance to reconnect with your cousin Shirley Marcotte (nee Unger). I loved listening to you and watching your face light up as you talked about childhood memories. I am so sorry that I didn’t reach out to your cousin Mary Henry (nee Lowry) like you asked me to. I just thought we had more time. You would have loved to talk to her and take trips down memory lane with her. She is definitely a keeper of our family history. I realize now that I'm the holder of our stories and I will do my best to honor your memory.

I will never understand how you could go from driving taxi or courier all day and come home to take me for a drive to just simply be together. I will always cherish those moments. You may not have had the words to comfort me but you always took the time to show me. You always told me you loved me and I miss your hugs most of all. I know you had to go Dad, but sometimes I miss you so much it hurts. I'm so glad that you went on your own terms and that I got to say goodbye. I'm mostly doing fine and I will get through this but like I told you before you left, my life will never be the same without you.

You loved your solitude and you felt most at peace when you were living in your trailer in the woods with your dog, Kira. You weren't a huge talker and you loved your family. Reanne (Nelson) Harder and Dorian Crutchley, Reggie Dunham and Danny Dunham and Samantha McBride, Nico (Ashley) Horgan and Kaye-lynn Horgan all send you their love. Even Mom! (‘Kaye,’ Katherine Crutchley) I am so glad that you decided to move to the farm with us even though we were definitely an eclectic mix. Who lives with their ex-wife in their final leg of life's journey? I am so grateful you allowed me to be with you all and loved me enough to make it work, especially through the pandemic.

We will have a family gathering soon, probably this weekend. I plan to make “Shit on a Shingle” as you are not able to make it for me anymore. Ken and I will make sure we get the boat in the water this spring so we can take your ashes to Tzartus Island like you have always wanted. I know you loved that lodge and felt at peace there. We will take Kira so she can run on the beach and say goodbye as well. She misses you and we will take good care of her. We will do our best to honor your wishes and your memory.

I love you forever,
Your Favorite Daughter,
Shannon Crutchley (Ken Addy)