Rickie Gerard Graham

GRAHAM, Rickie Gerard

Rickie Gerard Graham, of Airdrie, passed away suddenly on October 13, 2014 at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary AB, at the age of 55 years.
Rick was born in Summerside, PEI, on October 30, 1958, and was an only child to Allan and Marion Graham. After spending his growing up years in Summerside, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces, and moved to Calgary, AB, where he would eventually meet his future wife, Sylvia(nee Page). During his seven year enlistment in the military he was posted to Gagetown NB, so he and his future wife moved to Fredericton NB, for a year, where they wed on December 11, 1987. After he completed his enlistment term, they toured PEI and the Maritimes for several months, and then, spent some time in BC, before returning to Calgary. In December of 1989, they purchased their first house in Airdrie, AB. They were blessed with two beautiful sons, Tyler born in 1991 followed by Michael in 1994, so with their growing family, they made the move in to the house that would remain his home for the duration of his life. Rick loved anything with wheels, from tanks in the military, to airplanes at numerous airshows, and cars at many car shows. When he was not repairing vehicles in the radiator repair shop he worked at, in Calgary, he loved to spend his time building plastic models, and had a big interest in hockey memorabilia. After a few career changes throughout his life, he started working at Eaton in Airdrie, in September 2000, where he built fire pump controllers.  It was very difficult for him when he was forced to retire from his job in December 2013, due to health reasons, because he loved his job and the people he worked with. Even though Rick had a lot of struggles and health issues throughout the past few years, he always remained so happy, positive and had such upbeat spirits, right until the end. He was a very devoted husband and father. Rick was predeceased by his mother, Marion Graham; and both his grandmother and grandfather in Summerside, PEI. He will be lovingly remembered by his dad, Allan Graham, now of Charlottetown, PEI; his wife of 26 years, Sylvia Graham; sons, Tyler and Michael Graham, all of Airdrie, AB; his very best friends, Larry and Ester Arrowsmith, of Salmon Arm, BC; as well as numerous other  in-law relatives all over BC and Alberta. Funeral arrangements are being taken care of by Alternatives Funeral Services in Airdrie, with a Memorial Service  being  held at the Grace Baptist Church, 1009 East Lake Blvd NE, Airdrie, AB on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 11:00 am. Donations in Rick’s memory may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, #200, 119 – 14 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1Z6 or The Kidney Foundation of Alberta, 6007 – 1A Street SW, Calgary, AB, T2H 0G5. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Dr. Samuel Schorr, the cardiologists of the Heart Transplant Team, Dr. Helen Tse, and all the other doctors, nurses, and staff of the Foothills Hospital.