Lambert Farm

Maurice (Percy) Lambert succumbed after a lengthy battle with cancer on October 11, 2010. He is survived by his wife Gertrude, four children, Ed (Ona) Lambert of Parkbeg, SK, Betty (Charlie) Ward of Salmon Arm, BC, Jean (George) Beck of Orleans, ON and Hazel (Mike) Williamson of Saskatoon, SK, 16 grandchildren and their spouses, 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is predeceased by all of his siblings, his daughter, Edith Bernice Montgrand and his grandson Robert Ward. Percy was born in the family home eleven miles northwest of Parkbeg on May 19, 1918. In the spring of 1939, he left the family farm to find employment in Williams Lake, BC with a hard rock gold mine and later on a ranch in the Williams Lake area until Percy enlisted for active service in the R.C.A.F. It was while taking training in Moose Jaw that Percy and a young girl named Gertrude Winkler discovered they had enough in common to share the rest of their lives. They were married March 21, 1942. For the next four years, their home was wherever service postings took them. In 1946, the young couple took up mixed farming in the Parkbeg area. They raised five children that would become an important part of their lives. It was during the farm years that Percy found time to become involved in a number of public service jobs including municipal councilor, secretary of the local telephone company, and director with Saskatchewan Association of Rural Telephone companies, secretary of the local Wheat Pool, secretary of two production Co-ops, and secretary for the Zion United Church at Parkbeg. In 1975, they sold the farm and moved to a quarter-section where they raised Simmental cattle and grew flowers and fruit trees. During this time Percy worked as a Hail Adjustor throughout Saskatchewan. Percy and Gertrude enjoyed traveling and took a number of trips before settling in California for the winters to pursue the “snowbird” life style. Once fully retired and no longer traveling south, Percy learned how to use a computer and completed two full-length novels as well as several children’s books for the great-grandchildren. Besides the computer he enjoyed floor shuffleboard and is a member of the Canadian Shuffleboard Hall of Fame. He also loved bridge and cribbage, was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and life member of the Cosmo Senior Center. A Celebration of Percy’s life will be held at W.J.Jones & Son Chapel on Friday October 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm. Della Ferguson will officiate. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery. For those so wishing, memorial donations may be directed to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, 455 Fairford St. E., Moose Jaw, 0S6H 1H3 or the Canadian Diabetes Association, 917 Albert St., Regina, S4R 2P6. In living memory of Percy, a tree will be planted in Besant Park by W.J.Jones & Son Funeral Home.