The family of (Melvin) Roy Corless, of Sundre AB, sadly said goodbye to Roy, as he went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Roy was born on July 20, 1933 in Trochu AB and then resided with his family on their farm in McDougal Flats west of Sundre AB. After high school Roy attended Mountain View Bible College, in Didsbury AB, before doing mission work in Nordegg. Roy eventually moved to Calgary for work and boarded with the Burgess family, which he had known for many years. It was at this time that Roy noticed that the once young girl, Marie, had grown into a beautiful lady, she became the love of his life. The couple was married in September of 1959; they spent over 61 years together. Roy was blessed with 4 cherished children, Kelly, Kathy, Tim and Beth. Roy spent many of his working years in the Arctic operating heavy machinery and doing construction. He eventually founded his own business, in Fort Good Hope NWT, in 1965. Arctic Circle Enterprises remained a vital service to that community until he sold and moved from the north in 1989. His work in the north allowed him to exercise his passion of flying, operating numerous heavy-duty machines, running a business and on days off playing on the waters and lands of the Mackenzie River Delta. During these years Roy and Marie also acquired and moved to his ancestral farm. The family spent time both in Sundre and Fort Good Hope, raising kids, farming, as well as continuing his work in the North.

Roy loved spending time with his family and his many friends, which were both local and scattered around the country. Many a picnic with “Roy” sized fires were celebrated on the farm and all were made to feel like family. Roy loved the water and whether it was crazy stunts on homemade wooden wakeboards with his brother Jack, teaching his kids, nieces, nephews and grandkids to water ski or simply listening to the sound of running water, it always gave him such joy.

Roy was known for his sweet tooth and was lucky to be married to an amazing baker who always supplied cookies, pies and love pudding to his hearts content. He loved music and his family enjoyed sitting around and listening to him play his guitar and if lucky, his harmonica as well! Roy’s humor and desire to get a rise out of you made it so fun to be around him. He was known for his many sayings, jokes and of course an occasional water fight!

One of Roy’s most memorable times was being able to fly his plane and visit the mission field of a lifelong missionary friend in Barbados and the Caribbean. The work being done there and the many bibles that they were able to hand out, touched Roy and reignited the passion that all should know the love of Jesus.

Roy and Marie enjoyed many camping trips with family and friends in their early years and so it was inevitable that in their retirement they began traveling in their motorhome, where they ended up in Yuma for many winters. They made many lifelong friends during this time. Roy was a farmer at heart and loved to take long drives to watch the farming in the fields around Sundre or to learn about the various crops being harvested in Yuma (as long as it ended with his favorite date shake!). Besides their many other types of trips, they also traveled in their motorhome all the way from Brownsville, Texas, their first motorhome trip, to Alaska!

Roy was known as a man of quiet patience and sound advice. Many family and friends have relied on his wisdom and appreciated that his favorite advice was: listen to others, take in the information, and consider it all and then YOU make your final decision. He encouraged us to think things through and not rush into making an uneducated decision. We will all miss his listening ear and being able to seek his advice. He was our hero in so many ways.

Roy is leaving behind his loving and precious wife Marie; 4 cherished children Kelly (Mark), Kathy (Robert), Tim (Loretta), Beth (Robin); 13 grandchildren (& their partners); 15 great-grandchildren; younger sister Kay (Syd); many nieces, nephews, loved ones, friends; Jack and Louise’s three children, Rick, Adrian, Marianne and their families, whom all very much became a part of Roy and Marie’s immediate family.

Roy is predeceased by his parents Melvin and Faye; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Louise.

Although Roy expressed concern over leaving his wife and family Roy said countless times that “His house was in order and he was ready to go be with his Savior”. He told us that his greatest desire was for all his friends and family to accept the gift of salvation, freely given to us by Jesus, so he can be reunited with all his loved ones in Heaven.

While we dwell on our loss, we think of his gain. What joy was his when he saw his Jesus face to face!

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to
The Gideons International in Canada at; https://gideons.ca/

The family would love to hear your special memories and photos of your time with Roy. Please visit the following website: at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. to share your messages for Marie and family.

• Date : 2021-05-20
• Location : www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com - Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre