Albert Gordon Baisley

To the family of Mr. Baisley. Please accept my condolences of the passing of a truly wonderful person who taught me so many things growing up. My name is Robert Krueger, I met Mr. Baisley back in Hanover in 1982. I was then 15. I first met Al through a mutual friend and when he learned that I lived close by he asked if i was interested in helping him look after his yard and garden. I accepted and that was the start of a friendship that spanded four years in person and many more years by internet and phone. A few of my fondest memories would be the gardening and the placements of his Irises and cana lilies and how he had to have them just perfect. I then graduated to helping him with the fix up of his basement and decks. In the winter time we would amuse ourselves looking after his many indoor plants. He taught me how to play scrabble, chess, and we would do many puzzels on his dining table. He then decided he would like to try a fish tank, we started with one little one which soon grew to four very large ones. He liked doing things on a very large scale. I enjoyed listening to Al playing the piano, athough I learned very quickly that he would stop very quickly if I walked in the room so I would place myself near an open window to listen. One of the more humours memories was that we liked watching down hill skiing and the anouncer would discribe the run and would use the term "Zeal swoosh" and that would send us both into a fit of laughter and the term would work its way into reqular conversation always ending with us having to wipe the tears out of our eyes from laughing so hard. I remember the day very well that he asked me because I was now 18, to no longer call him Mr. Baisley that I was now old enough to call him Al. I was very honoured then as I am now to call him Al, as well as a friend. I will remember you always and thank you for being a part of my life. Zeal Swoosh my friend. To the family, I hope some of these memories will bring you peace and comfort during these difficult times to help you remember what a great person he is

To all the family of Al Baisley: My heartfelt condolences to you with the passing of Al. Al and myself have been friends since 2008. I met him through a person that new Al as well as my sister, whom passed away in Red Deer in 2008. He was such an incredibly intelligent, proud, and humble man. He had such a way with words that were exceptional, and new just what to say regardless of the situation. I enjoyed his character so very much, as he made me burst out laughing so many times. There were more than a couple of situations of him making me laugh so hard of which I had just taken a sip of my coffee and the outburst spurted my coffee out of my mouth and directly hit the screen and keyboard of my computer. I was getting quite worried in December, as I had not heard from Al. I was very upset as I misplaced his address and telephone number of all the things, and could not retrieve this valued information from a list I kept on my computer. We exchanged a little something each Christmas so I could not send him anything because of this. After a few more days, I still had not heard from him, and this was very unusual as I heard from him just about everyday, I really got more concerned. I called numerous times to the joint friend that he and my sister had, and she just was not interested at all in helping me. All I asked her to do, was drive over to his house and check if all was OK and tell him I was worried. The only other thing I could think of, was to contact Shaw Cable company, as I know he is set up with them. Shaw was tremendous to me and my concern, and while I was on hold with them, they contacted Al to inform him of who I was to ask, and also they were concerned at his welfare. At that time he told them that he was just in and out of the hospital and was having some computer problems. I was waiting and waiting to hear from him to let me know what he was so ill from and receive his cheerful message of having fixed his computer issues........I guess I will not be receiving that message. This is awful. I was in Calgary, as my mom just passed away from Alzheimer's, and her funeral was on the 9th. As my husband and myself were travelling back home to Lac La Biche, I did comment, that I still could not believe I misplaced Al's number and address, as I would have called him. If I would have known any member of his family, I would have been able to see him at the hospital on the 10th. I guess we will not be able to say good-bye to each other. I am sending our prayers to all. I would appreciate if someone of your family would let me know what Al passed away from would be some closure. Our blessings are sent to comfort you.