Andrew Raymond Mitchell Roy

On Monday, April 20, 2020 Andy Roy passed away at the age of 95 years.  He is lovingly remembered by three children, Ernest (Shelley Donald) of Cochrane, AB, Judy of Fort McMurray, AB, and Gregory (Joan Bignell) of Calgary, AB;  as well as four grandchildren, Kristi-Anna Steiestol (Knut Ulsrud) of Edmonton, AB,  Megan Langpap (Hunter Langpap) of Fort McMurray, AB,  Erika Roy and Charlie Roy (Lucy Talman) of Calgary, AB;  and 3 great grandsons, Cullen and Henrik Langpap of Fort McMurray, AB and August Ulsrud of Edmonton, AB. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marion (Chris) (nee Christie).  They were married for 66 years. 

During WWII he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and later in the Canadian Parachute Corps.  He received a High School Teachers’ Diploma from Bishop’s University in 1947 following which he taught in the Eastern Townships, Outremont and for the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal.  In 1965 he was appointed Secretary of the Protestant Committee of the Superior Council of Education (Quebec City) and in 1970 Director General of the Greater Quebec School Board. 

Following his retirement in 1980 he lectured on a part-time basis in the Graduate School of Education at Bishop’s University and in 1988, he and his beloved Chris moved to Calgary. 

During retirement he spent 19 wonderful summers in Prince Edward Island in Kildare Capes and would return to Calgary for the winter months. His children and grandchildren have many great memories of their time spent on the island with their parents and grandparents.  

After selling his home on the Island, his adventurous spirit led him in search of another Shangri-la closer to home.  That turned out to be an off-grid water access property on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia where the valleys are narrow, the Selkirks are high, the water deep, and the sunsets early.  For the next 10 years, he went on to spend portions of each spring, summer, and fall there.  

Andy was an honorary life member of the Quebec Association of School Administrators, a member of the Board of Governors of St Lawrence College, Quebec City, and a member of the Corporation of King’s Hall Compton.  Active in community affairs, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Quebec City YMCA, a charter member of the Refugee Aid Society, Montreal-Lakeshore Chapter and a Warden at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Quebec City.

He may best be remembered for his work in the Eastern Quebec Regional School Board where in the late 1970s he worked tirelessly to provide schooling in French for members of a growing French Protestant (Evangelical) community.  With retirement came time to chronicle these activities in a book he published in 2004, entitled: “A Son of Quebec”.

Soldier on Dear Dad, Gumper and always know that in life we loved you, in death we love you still, in our hearts you hold a forever place that no one could ever fill.   “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”  Psalm 116:15    

When funeral arrangements have been completed, extended family will be contacted. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the charity of your choice, St. James Anglican Church, St. Edmund’s Anglican Church or Friends of the Colonel Belcher Society, all in Calgary, AB.

The family of Andy wishes to thank the staff of the Carewest Colonel Belcher, St. James Anglican Church, and St. Edmund’s Anglican Church.