Garrett Borley

Garrett (Garry) Borley passed away at the Swan River Valley Hospital on Sunday, February 8th, 2015 at the age of 83 years with his daughter, Sherry Carmichael, at his side.

Garry was born on July 16th, 1931 at the family homestead west of Swan River where he was raised and later married and brought his wife and children to live there with him.

Garry is predeceased by: his parents Joseph Borley in June 1970 and Vera Borley in December 1983; First wife Myrtle Kalinchuk (Luce) in September 1983; His older brother Ken in March 1985, brother in law Gerald Turton in March 1997 and Myrtles siblings: Donald Luce in April 1996, Evelyn Galarneau in Nov. 1987, Albert Luce in April 2001, Edwin Luce in March 2003, Sidney Luce in March 1999, Annie Brading in March 1985, Melvin Luce in July 1997, Herbert Luce in May 2005, Clarence Luce in July 1967, Annie Hummeny in February 2011, and Eugene Kalinchuk in April 1990; and Minnie’s daughter Linda McIntosh in April 2003.

Garry was born and raised in the Swan River Valley area and went to school at Swan Valley School District #51. He is survived by: his wife, Minnie; his son Garry Joe (Lori); adopted children, John (Frances), Debbie (John) Bihun, Sherry (Ken) Carmichael and step children from his second marriage, Shirley (Ross) Gingera, Garry (Birdie) Clapham, Maxine (Harvey) Grindle, and Michael McIntosh; Grandchildren, Janine and Jason Bihun, Jennifer Meixner Binda, JoLynn Carmichael and great grandson: Branson Binda, and well as numerous adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He will be mourned by: his wife, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as his sister: Lola Turton (Denie and Albert, Lewis and Nancy) , brother Brian (Betsy) Borley (Joe, Vera); sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth Luce, Rose Luce, Gordon (Joan) Johansson, Wilbert (Patricia) Luce, Hazel Luce, Vernon (Judith) Luce, Alma Kalinchuk, the Hummeny Family,  Minnie’s extended family, and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Garry’s love for horses far surpassed just riding for recreation and using them as work horses. He showed horses and won many ribbons over the years with his horses. He continued with his passion of working with the horses when he met Garry Clapham.

Garry met Myrtle Kalinchuk in 1961 and on July 12th, 1962 they were married. With that marriage Myrtle brought her children from her first marriage into this union, John, Debbie and Sherry. Garry Joe was born on April 11th, 1965. They mixed farmed as well as ran a Dairy known as the "Borley’s Bonnie Aryshires" until Garry had a slight heart attack in 1973. He went north to work to a less stressful way of life. When his wife Myrtle died, he moved back to the valley and met his second wife Minnie (McIntyre) Clapham in 1990. Garry married Minnie on August 13th, 1994 and with that union he increased his family with her children: Linda, Maxine, Shirley, and Garry. Garry loved working with his hands and carved teams of horses and wagons, made a steam engine and a working sawmill in his workshop in Minitonas. He made bucking bulls and rider, a bucking bronco and rider, an ox team and the Red River cart, the old farm wagon with the spoked wheels, sleighs with runners and many rocking horses. There are teams of horses they made in the USA and across Canada that they built together with love. 

In the last few years, Garry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and his health failed until he died on February 8th, 2015 with his daughter Sherry at his side.

He was cremated and his urn was lovingly made by Lewis, Chris and Jacob Turton. He was buried June 20th, 2015 by Paull Funeral Home with a funeral service in their Chapel and then laid to rest in the Birchwood Cemetery beside his mother, Vera Borley and first wife, Myrtle.

He was a special Dad, husband, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, Poppa Garry, friend, co-worker, a former Elk Member and most recently a Lion member.

He will be missed by many and we should celebrate his memory with love and laughter.