ELDER, Alexander
Posted: February 25th, 2020
Alexander Gordon Elder
November 9, 1931 – February 23, 2020
Alec Elder (affectionately known as Alectrician to his children) passed away peacefully in his sleep, at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, early Sunday morning, held in the deep love and friendship of his devoted wife Marion and family.
Alec is survived by his children: Sandi (Greg) Irvine of Sherwood Park, Brian (Julie) of Lavoy, Teresa (Vincent) Hanlon of Lethbridge, Lloyd of Edmonton and Donovan (Sharon) of Rocky Mountain House; stepson Ronald (Janet) King of Qualicum Beach; brother Bill of Calgary and brother-in-law Ken (Doreen) Parker of Lacombe as well as numerous nieces (especially Valerie Scott of Victoria), nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one wee great-great-granddaughter.
He was predeceased by his first wife Ethel (Keech) (1928-2010); firstborn son Randy (1954-1986); stepson Michael King (1958 – 2005); parents Edward James and Teresa Elizabeth (Rombough); and brothers James and Lionel as well as several other family members.
Alec was born in Castor, Alberta and raised near the coulees in Cardston, the third son in a family of four sons. Along with Tommy Banks, Alec was named one of Alberta’s Ten Outstanding Young Men in the 1970s and was Provincial Commissioner of Scouting. He loved to tell, to anyone who would listen, stories of his life adventures from boyhood to playing basketball, motorbiking, scouting, hunting in the mountains, travelling, sailing, television watching and of his time with telephones, especially on the mid-Canada line in the 1950s where he provided for his family while working with AGT (Telus) as a technician and later, a manager.
Alec loved birding (especially with Marion), scout leadership at all levels, being on the water or deep in the woods. He enjoyed teaching others, electronics, and playing trivia games. A life-long learner of languages, he also curled, ice-fished, travelled, sailed, read and especially liked gatherings with all his family around. He will be sadly missed for his generous spirit, his curiosity, his skill in identifying birds and his love of a well-told tale.
In his memory please donate to Ducks Unlimited (donate.ducks.ca). The night he died, inspired by listening to a book by Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Alec was planning on addressing climate change by planting one tree every year for six years—another way you can remember this man and add to his legacy of love for all life.
A tea for Alec’s family and friends with an Open Mic will be held in his memory at ST. MARTHA’S CHURCH, 355 Columbia Blvd. West, Lethbridge, on Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 2:00 P.M.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
Dearest Theresa and family. I remember your dad being kind to me all the time. Most of all I remember the time he helped me do my income tax, and he insisted I had the smarts to do it. He had incredible teaching ability. So sorry for your loss.