James "Graham" Walby passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012, one day before his 87th birthday. Graham was born on Oct. 24, 1925 in Wilkie, SK. He grew up in Wilkie and became very active in sports. He played Hockey as the goalie for the Wilkie Outlaws and then Baseball for the Yorkton Red Sox. He started to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway at the age of 17 and was a devoted employee for forty four years - he never had a sick day! He enlisted in the Navy on June 29th, 1944 during World War II and spent time on the East Coast and was about to be deployed when the war ended. He married his high school sweet heart, Belva McIntyre on May 7th, 1949. They had two children, Bruce Neil and Brenda Jo. In 1952, the family relocated to Yorkton with his job with the CPR. Yorkton was home until 1971 when he was transferred to Saskatoon. His wife Belva passed away in 1995 and he relocated back to Yorkton in 2009 to be closer to family. He moved to Lakeside Manor in Saltcoats, SK in March 2011. Graham was a very avid golfer. He played daily for over 40 years and achieved three award winning hole in ones through his lifetime. He also enjoyed playing cards, Rummy Tile and pool with his family. Graham was always up to new challenges with his son in law, including racket ball where he chipped a tooth, snowmobiling and down hill skiing where he hurt his knee. Later in life, Graham or Papa as his grandchildren knew him, enjoyed spending time with them attending numerous band concerts, dance recitals, Christmas concerts and Synchronized Swimming competitions. Graham had a kind and soft spoken manner. He will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor and wit and for being a perfectionist. Graham was predeceased by his parents, his wife Belva, son Bruce, brother Wib Walby, sisters in law Eileen Walby, Glenna Vose and Lois Gammie and brothers in law Gordon Gammie and Ross McIntyre. Graham leaves to mourn his daughter Brenda (Bill) Nussbaumer and daughter in law Nellie Neil. He also leaves behind his five grand daughters: Trina Neil, Sherry Webster (Jason), Heidi Watrych (Conrad), Erica Nussbaumer (Scott Porter) and Rachel Umana (Ukeme) and six great grandchildren: Emma and Matthew Webster, Connor, Tristan, Owen and Jordanna Watrych, one sister-in-law, Ramona McIntyre plus many nieces and nephews. Many of his family members were able to celebrate an early birthday with him on the Sunday before his passing, and he sadly left us the day before his birthday. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 16, 2012 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with Reverend Walter Farquharson officiating. The organist, Lorne Neal, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Kum Ba Ya", "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory", "The Lord of the Dance" and "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace". Following a luncheon in the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, the Cremation Committal followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery Columbarium with Graham's son-in-law, Dave Nussbaumer serving as the urn bearer. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
