Mr. Lawrence ‘Lorne’ Alvin Gerrard passed away peacefully in the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Saturday, January 20, 2024. He was born in Innisfail, Alberta on September 2, 1939, to Verna nee Peterson and Sandy Gerrard. Lorne was raised on the farm out at Knee Hill Valley with his seven siblings and enjoyed working on the farm. In 1969, he married Sandra Krause, and they had a daughter Tammy and eighteen months later their son Mike was born. They lived on their own farm until 1977 and then moved to Innisfail, Alberta where they were very busy driving Mike and Tammy around to their various sports activities and school trips. He worked hard all his life and he loved to work. Lorne had a variety of careers over the years such as a farmer, oilfield worker, truck driver, heavy equipment operator and bobcat operator. He was a self-taught mechanic, welder, inventor, designer and fabricated many items over the years. Lorne was always puttering in the garage inventing things and continually making plans coming up with new ideas. He loved to collect rocks and was famous for handing out rocks to everyone he knew. Lorne loved to give everyone a lucky rock whenever he saw them. He loved children and animals and with his gentle nature, animals and kids naturally gravitated towards him. Lorne also loved John Deere’s vintage cars and all kinds of machinery. He was always happy to go to Irricana Days and the Innisfail car show. Lorne liked camping and golf but one of his favorite things were road trips. He loved to drive all over Alberta and British Columbia and explore new towns and areas. Lorne had the ability to light up any room he went into. He was witty and charming and loved to tease people. Everyone who met him was drawn to him. Lorne made friends easily and loved to have coffee at A &W and Tim Hortons. He faced a lot of health challenges in his life and faced each new challenge with positivity and hope. Lorne was very resilient and tenacious with a never give up attitude. His legacy to his wife, kids and grandkids is a roadmap on how to live life well. He worked hard and led by example. Lorne was kind, gentle, honest, patient, strong and an eternal optimist. . He is lovingly remembered by his wife of fifty-four years, Sandra, his daughter Tammy (Jamie), and their children, Colin, Kati (Shawn) and Jenna, his son, Mike (Brenda) and their children, Sarah (Matt) and Tyson (Sammi). He is deeply missed by his siblings Betty (Jack) Hobbs, Karen Gibbons, Dave (Terry) Gerrard, Linda (Allen) Howard, Bert Gerrard, Rhonda (Larry) McDermott as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents Verna and Sandy, his sister Melva, brother in law’s Bob Gibbons and Maurice Thomas and his cherished dogs Muffin and Buddy. A Come and Go Memorial Tea will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 104, 5108 49 Avenue, Innisfail, Alberta on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Flowers are welcome as Lorne loved gardening or if desired Memorial Donations in Lawrence’s honor may be made directly to the Humane Society at www.cahumane.com, the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

• Date : 2024-02-01
• Location : Locally Family Owned (Red Deer) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com