GEORGE HILLAIRE HALLEY

It is with profound sadness and shock that we announce the sudden passing of George Hillaire Halley on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 at Halley’s One Man Lake Lodge on the English River, north of Kenora, Ont.
George was born Dec. 27, 1942 in Bonnyville, Alta. to Louie and Yvonne Halley.
He leaves to mourn his wife of 44 years, his best friend, and the love of his life, Sharon (Schram) Halley; his daughter, Sherri and husband, David Zroback; and his three grandchildren, Chase Halley, Colton Zroback, and Samantha Zroback.
Also left to mourn are his mother, Yvonne (Blain) Halley; aunt, Maria (Blain) Weinmeier; brother and business partner, Eugene and his wife, Wanda (Bush) Halley; sisters, Anna
(Halley) Zurkan and Donna Halley; mother-in-law, Violet (Lauzon) Schram; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Valerie and Carl Bolen, Norma and Harvey Ossachuk, Dennis and Lavina Schram, Don Schram, Philip and Sharon Schram, Leslie Schram, Betty and Morley Bolen, Faye and Albert Gouliquer, Wendy Cyr, and Tim Nordin; and his nieces and nephews, Audi and Marg Zurkan, Coreena Zurkan, Todd and Sandra Zurkan, Dale Zurkan, Christopher and Amber Halley, Robbin Halley, Kate Halley, and Faye-Anne Halley.
As well, there are 37 other nieces and nephews on Sharon’s side of the family living away from Kenora, and a total of 41 great-nieces and nephews, whom all loved their Uncle George to the fullest, and countless numbers of cousins both near and far.
All of us will miss George very much.
George was predeceased by his daughter, Susan Halley and son-in-law, Daniel Perchaluk; his father, Louie Halley; brother-in-law, John Zurkan; sister-in-law, Dianne (Schram) Nordin; and father-in-law, Sydney Schram.
George was an avid outdoorsman, an accomplished bush pilot, and an expert fisherman, trapper and hunter—and an advocate for the way of life that he loved so dearly.
The enjoyment he had in these activities shone through in his everyday life at work and at play. He was truly content when in the bush, at the lodges, and out on the lake.
George grew up on Black Sturgeon Lake, and attended #4 School on the School Road as a boy, and later Lakewood High School. By this time, George already had formed life-long friendships that would withstand the test of time.
As a young man, George decided early on to involve himself and his young bride in the tourism business started by his parents in 1946. He and Sharon struck out on a new adventure, running a fishing operation out of tents that is now the present-day Kettle Falls Lodge.
For 44 years, Sharon and George have called Halley’s Kettle Falls Lodge “home,” and it is there that they forged countless more deep and everlasting friendships.
George had a larger-than-life personality. He was many things to many people, but most of all he was considered to be a great big teddy bear. He was a mountain of a man, strong yet
accommodating, rugged yet gentle, light-hearted and carefree.
He loved spending time with his family, who were a great source of pride and joy.
George loved to travel, and when not at camp, he and Sharon were constantly on the go. Whether a short hop or a long haul, they travelled many miles and many roads together, both across Canada and in the United States and Mexico.
George was a 25-year associate member of Br. #12 of the Royal Canadian Legion, a long-time member of the board of directors of Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association, and a member of the Ontario Trappers’ Federation, and held his commercial pilot’s licence since 1979.
George wasn’t finished living life. He was taken from us too soon, and on this journey we cannot follow. But what we wouldn’t give for one more airplane ride, one more snowmobile trip, one more fishing adventure, a chance to make one more memory, and to say “So long, George. ’Til we meet again.”
Prayers will be held Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre in Kenora, Ont.
Funeral services will held Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in Kenora, with Fr. Rudy Manaloto officiating.
Interment to follow at Lake of the Woods Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Ken Boychuck, James Hendy, Steve Maas, John Neniska, Jon Ouellette, and Aurelle Portier.
The honourary pallbearers will be Joe Neniska, Stash Zroback, Paul Swancar, and all who knew and loved him.
Instead of flowers, we ask that in memoriam donations be made online by visiting the following web addresses and clicking on the “Donate” button: The Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.on.ca), The Canadian Cancer Society (www.cancer.ca), or the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation (www.lwdhf.com).
Online condolences may be offered at www.mem.com