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 Elmer Ladouceur 1953-2008 Elmer Ladouceur was born August 11, 1953 in Lac La Biche to Johnny and Ida Ladouceur. He grew up in the Caslan area near Buck Lake where his dad had a boat rental business. As a member of a large family (seven boys and two girls) Elmer developed a variety of hands on skills which served him well throughout his work life. Elmer moved to Edmonton when he was 14 and started his work life as a general labourer. In the 1980’s Elmer had a brush with death as he was electrocuted on a work site and had to be revived. He sustained burns to his shoulder as well as impairments to his short term memory and his reading and writing skills. Over time his memory did improve but he continued to struggle with his reading and writing. His life in Silver Valley began in 1992. Margaret and Elmer were married on May 2 and for the remainder of his life he worked and lived in the area. During the 16 years Elmer and Margaret were married, they shared in a number of trips to the USA, both to visit Margaret’s mom as well as to help Margaret’s aunt while her husband recovered from hip surgery. Over the last 16 years Elmer has worked diligently for a number of local businesses. He started as farm labourer for Ed Matiaszow, at the Silver Valley sawmill, for Stan Johnson, Don Turner, Orin Toews and for Tim Garner in a number of capacities. Elmer did a stint working for Borek Construction in Fort Nelson and in 1994 had a logging block in the Blueberry Forest. Those who Elmer worked for can attest to the varied skill set that Elmer brought with him to his work. Elmer enjoyed music and playing guitar. If there was someone around to jam with, he would thoroughly enjoy it. He told of meeting country singer Patsy Cline as a boy when she came with others to rent a boat and fish on Buck Lake. He was also handy with some traditional skills such as beading and ceramics and we all witnessed his mechanical abilities with the number of vehicles he worked on. Elmer met an untimely death in the early morning of September 22, 2008 in a vehicle accident on the edge of Dawson Creek. He leaves to mourn his wife Margaret, adult children Cathy (granddaughter Brooklyn), Jared (wife Lisa with grandchildren Erika, Jiles and Brianna) and Susan, sister Mildred (Roy), brothers Roy and Archie and sister Marlene as well as numerous other relatives. He also leaves friends here in silver Valley and will especially be a significant loss to Tim Garner as a friend and right hand man. A funeral service was held on September 27, 2008 at the Savanna School Gymnasium, Silver Valley, Alberta, officiated by Pastor Floyd Anderson and Cornelius Thiessen. Interment followed in the Blueberry Mountain Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Elmer by way of a donation for a- Bursary for Automotive Mechanic “NAIT advancement Office” c/o Elmer Ladouceur #101-11762-106 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2R1 or the SPCA 637-114 Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 3A1. |
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