Blaine Douglas Gee
January 12th, 2015
Blaine was born in Viceroy, Saskatchewan to Eileen and Wilfred Gee; the eldest of three sons along with Brian and Boyd. Blaine was also blessed with a son Cody (Laura Lee Entler) and three grandchildren Brodee 4, Corben 3, Robbin 2, all who reside in Texas.
Blaine's childhood schools were Desmond and Rexall Country Schools, which were located two miles from his home (uphill both ways). He rode horse-back to the country schools and later rode the school bus to Bengough, where he completed grade 8. He wasn't exactly the teacher's pet, as his attention was mostly looking out the window watching the horses in the corral near the school.
Blaine spent most of his holidays at his Granddad and Grandma Williams Ranch, south of Glasnevin, Saskatchewan. His grandparents were very special to him; he admired the great love they had for each other. Granddad was a big tease and Blaine learned that trait very well. Blaine would be full of the “devil”, he would like to pull tricks, sometimes too many, which would get him into trouble with his Grandma. Between Blaine and his Granddad, they drove Grandma Williams crazy.
Growing up on a mixed farm at Bengough and leaving home at the age of 14 years, Blaine Gee worked his way through to the U.S. where he spent 30 years in both the movie industry and cowboying on the "big outfits", Levi Strauss Ranch. He lived everywhere from Arizona and New Mexico to Wyoming and California.
As a stuntman and wrangler in Hollywood's horse operas, he worked on the likes of Long Riders, Chisholm Trail, Going South, and Urban Cowboy. Mingling with the stars, Blaine said that one of the highlights of his career was "working with the Carradine boys on Long Riders", while he also got to know Michael Landon through the T.V. series Little House On The Prairie.
Blaine will tell you that he learned the hard way as his tasks included everything from "training fallin' horses" to jumping horses through a window. Because of his no fear spirit, he was a stunt man in the movie industry, “Smokey and the Bandit” starring Bert Reynolds. He had that stereo- typical cowboy look, so was he was perfect as “The Marlboro Man”. Blaine said that they would have to sit on horseback in the cold for hours so the photographer could capture the perfect light needed for the ad. As a result, Blaine froze his ears many times; the ill-effects were very hairy ears.
Replanting his roots in Southern Saskatchewan, Blaine moved to Wood Mountain in 1997 to work for a local rancher and rodeo announcer Gary Jones; content to retire close to home.
He also worked in the oil industry as a core hand in many places in Canada and the United States. He was a man that could fix anything and run any piece of equipment. Even with failing eyesight, he could pick up a toothpick with the grapple fork.
Blaine's claim to fame was the famous Long Horn Bull, Blatant “The Wonder Bull”. Everywhere Blaine showed Blatant, anyone could have a ride on him. He was one of Blaine's range bulls for three years and he could never keep him home, so he roped him one day and went to ride him just like a horse--he neck reined, backs up and lays down. Blatant's picture has been all over the world and he used the bull for movie work, commercials, rodeos, and a variety of publicity events.
Since 2007 Blaine resided with Rowena Eddy, whom he loved very much, on her farm near Griffin, Saskatchewan. His efforts in improving the old farm will be forever appreciated and remembered. His touch is everywhere there.
Blaine, will be deeply missed by all the people's lives that he has touched including Dr. Miakhil, Dr. Khan, and Dr. Beaulieu. He worked at the Assiniboia and Weyburn Livestock Auction Market, an industry that needs the skills of good hard riding cowboys and Blaine fit the job description perfectly.
Blaine suffered many injuries because of working with livestock (buffalo, horses, cows) but he still kept getting back into that saddle. Even being a rough tough on the outside type of character, he had many gentle ways; the strength of an ox and the softness of a lamb.
He knew how to buy cards and flowers for the right occasions and always had a candle burning.
He was a very patient man. He could make a difficult situation easy with his unique comedy style; a rare talent. He was ready to help anybody out at a moment’s notice. A generous guy, he would give his last nickel.
This last year, Blaine got back into the saddle again in buying, selling, and trading "Good" horses, one of his many fortes. He was riding the best broke horse at the sale barns. He was very proud of the horses he was dealing with, well broke and good pedigree and papered.
Blaine had demons that no one will ever understand except God and everyone accepted him the way he was. Sometimes this made life more challenging than it needed to be but that is just the way it was. Blaine was a cowboy's cowboy, the last of the real hard core cowboys.
Blaine is sleeping now and for sure he will ride on many more trail rides on the new earth with well broke horses and he will not be in pain again. Thank you Lord for Blaine's life and all the legacies he left behind. He will always be remembered by all who knew him.
Messages:
It was a great honor and privilege to have known him and we were truly blessed to have had him touch our lives. The world was a better place with him in it with his one of a kind personality and his down right cheekiness. He always made me laugh with his own brand of crazy. He will be greatly missed and every time I go to visit Kisbey I will always remember him. He touched my spirit. Cowboy up you ol' cowpoke !!!
We had the honor of working with Blaine at the Auction Mart in Weyburn. Blaine even let Roseanna ride some of his horses. He will be greatly missed. We are sorry we could not make it to the service. Thoughts and prayers to the family.