Obituary of Earl Lloyd SOMERVILLE

What can I say about Earl, a.k.a., Dad. Well to sum him up, he was a political philosopher in Engineerʼs clothing with a side of down home country! He knew a little about everything and had all kinds of opinions to compliment the knowledge. Dad had a lifetime full of adventures - some real and some imagined - and I would love to share with you today, the Adventures of Earl Lloyd Somerville. The adventure started for Earl in a little town called Brooks, Alberta where he was born to his parents, Violet Ellen Ruark and Lester Clarence Somerville on October 20th, 1948. “Ellen” and Lester brought their bouncing baby boy home to their farm in Rolling Hills, Alberta where he was introduced to his already flourishing family. Earl had 3 sisters - Eldest Nellie, June and Vera and 2 brothers - Ray and Glen waiting to introduce him to the first adventures of his life. Dad was rough and tumble and Iʼm sure he gave his older siblings a run for their money! Dad was blessed with further additions to his family when brothers and sisters, Allen, Ina, Dean, Amy and Dan were added to the Somerville Clan. A whopping total of 11 children were busting at the seams in the small Somerville homestead in Rolling Hills where strict mother, Ellen, had to keep them all in line. It was there where Earl grew into the boy who was ready to compete in any area and wanted to be the best at everything. He excelled in school and sports and learned to shoot with amazing precision. His sister Amy recalled times when hunters from surrounding areas would come and get Earl because he was such an amazing shot. Dad was happiest when he excelled at the tasks he attempted and was even happier when people noticed! He was also a dare devil, willing to try just about anything - it couldnʼt just be any toboggan hill he could speed down, it had to be at the very top, at the steepest point with the slipperiest conditions that Dad had to race his sled down. Dad was a bit of a trouble maker, too, willing to take a bet and raise his fists if he needed to, well, maybe sometimes when he didnʼt need to, either! Dad shared fond memories of dragging his brother, Al, on some of his fist-raising, car racing, girl chasing adventures! Those stories are best left for the pub down the street where you can raise your glass of scotch and toast dadʼs less savory adventures! Dad could have a softer side that he liked to apply to animals. He had a couple of dogs, one in particular named Rocky, who used to help him tend sheep and they were his special companions. Dad also loved to work with horses and helped out with the various chores that cropped up from living on a farm. Dad was a hard worker and would milk cows, feed chickens, tend to the pigs and run a tractor - he took pride in using his brains and brawn and continued to love the prairie and all of its bounty. Unfortunately, a devastation struck the Homestead when patriarch, Lester, passed away suddenly in 1965, when Dad was only 16. Dad shared numerous stories of the kind and gentle nature of his father and I recall Dad feeling the responsibility of becoming a “man” on that day. Dad recalled that it was after his Dad died that he was ready for bigger adventures outside of Rolling Hills and landed himself in the oil patch. He did spend some time at Medicine Hat College, but Dad liked the fast lane, ready to make fast money, party and meet women. He did just that, when he went to a party and charmed Gloria Jean Philbert into marrying him. Dad could really pour on the charm and was very charismatic; Gloria was a goner. They had 2 children together, eldest, Dionne Marjorie Ellen was born in 1972 in Calgary, Alberta. When Dionne was only a year old, the oil patch took Earl and Gloria over-seas for 3 years. They lived in Scotland, where their second child was born, Sarah Dawn, in 1974. After their second bundle of joy was born, they continued on to Portugal and Egypt to live before they returned to Canada. Each country was a new adventure and Earl and Gloria always found a great place to party and great people to meet. The two were a socializing duo, Earl being the jesting, loud, charismatic one and Gloria being the quiet, supportive, and fun partner in their duo. For the next 15 years, Dad enjoyed his life in the oil patch, with the support of Gloria at his side, they built a stable life together, but not so stable that there wasnʼt adventure. Earl continued his hunting pursuits and I recall many a time when wild game was served at the dinner table, yuck! He also spent many times at trap shooting competitions and even taught and encouraged his wife to shoot a clay pigeon or two. I recall fondly learning how to shoot a gun - that is where Dad could show his patience. Dad could have patience, they just didnʼt last very long! In those moments of patience, Dad taught Dionne and I how to shoot a 22 rifle and various pellet guns. He would take us out to the country where we could shoot at various pieces of junk as targets. I recall a time he took Dionne and I gopher hunting. I donʼt think Dionne or I ever touched the gun because whenever a gopher was in sight, Dad was already on it! Its alright, I donʼt think either one of us would have had the heart to shoot one, city girls that we were! Dad managed to shoot many a gopher during that trip, but he also managed to shoot a hole through the roof of his friendʼs car, oops! The gun had jammed and Dad was using a hunting knife to help dislodge the bullet in the chamber...heʼs lucky just the roof of the car got it and he still had a hand left! Dad had a huge network of oil patch buddies that he hunted and fished with and played many a round of gin rummy at the 400 Club. We had summers at friendsʼ cabins and ski trips at ski cabins, with the odd trip on a private plane. Dad was living the life and enjoying every minute of it. I can honestly say, Dad was willing to try just about everything and did. He was quick to throw back his head and laugh at his own quick wit and the humor from others that he surrounded himself with. Those were the days Dad worked for British Petroleum and where is career was at its fullest. Unfortunately, Dadʼs days at BP came to an end and he began to do some soul searching around where is next adventure would be. Dad was ready to return to his simpler, country roots, but wanted to do it in style. He had a vision and it included a cattle ranch in Costa Rica. Dad had learned Spanish from some previous work he did in Columbia, so he decided Costa Rica was where to move the family. Unfortunately, his vision surpassed his reality and he returned to Canada in under a year with a little more experience, but a little less money. He knew it was time to return to the oil patch. Venezuela was the next adventure in Earlʼs life. He became the GM and President of Ducharme de Venezuela. It was in Venezuela where Dad met the next love of his life, Desiree Bastardo in 1993. They were blessed with Earlyn Violet in 1995 and Dad was the proud father of 3 daughters. Due to the continuing unrest in Venezuela, Earl decided to return to Canada and began the process of getting Desiree and Earlyn to Canada. Dad moved his small family to Tilley, AB while taking a job with the County of Newell as the Superintendent for Public Works. Earl and Desiree were married in 2000 in a small ceremony in Tilley. Dad continued to have his adventures, even adding some miniature horses into the mix. Dad continued to hunt and fish and pass on his talents and pursuits to his youngest daughter, Earlyn. Dad taught her how to shoot and ride horses. He has taken all his daughters deep sea fishing at one time or another and we all remember the sea sickness that followed that particular pursuit! With his life with Desiree and Earlyn, Dad continued to love his holidays and adventures with plenty of good food in the mix. Dad would eat just about anything if there was ketchup. He was not afraid to try anything exotic and in fact, was more likely to try it, the more exotic it was. Dad eventually moved back to Calgary with Desiree and Earlyn and returned to the oil patch once again. Dad has had the true international experience in his career where he has spanned 29 countries. I reviewed a write up he composed for his reunion and he listed the countries he has been, they include; UK, Holland, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Columbia, Ecuador, Columbia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Trinidad, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Malta, Bahrain, USA, Bahamas and Mexico. His work has included projects from heavy pad drilling, shallow oil and gas, deep hardrock, high pressure and underbalanced sour wells in mountains, plains, desert, arctic, jungle and off shore. Dad loved to read and play cards. Cards have been one of his favorite past times and he passed on his card playing abilities to all of his children. Dad would spend hours playing cards with various people and it absolutely pulled out his competitive streak. Dad was a poor loser, but an even worse winner!! Dad was feisty in life and continued that feistiness in his battle with cancer. if Dad could have kicked the crap out of cancer, he would have. He was diagnosed with CLL - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 7 years ago and didnʼt allow it to slow him down. He underwent various treatments, but still managed to work, travel and play. It wasnʼt until Dad was diagnosed with aggressive non-hodgekins lymphoma in August, 2014, that he entered into the biggest fight of his life. Dad was prepared to do whatever it took to beat the crap out of his disease and cheat death; with all the blood, sweat and tears he could muster. Unfortunately his grit, fortitude, stubbornness and shear brute force were not enough. He succumbed to his cancer in his hospital room at the Peter Laughed Hospital on Monday, March 23rd at 12:35 in the afternoon. Throughout his life time, Earl continued to want to go back to his simple country roots. Being an avid reader, he read the western series by Louis LʼAmour. I often joked with Dad about wanting to live out a Loius LʼAmour book. I hope youʼre up there Dad, living it out - riding horses, roping steers, administering old west justice with a gun slung to your hip and I hope you manage to rescue whatever damsel in distress needs it. Good by Earl Lloyd Somerville a.k.a Dad. Written by Sarah Hollingsworth