October 27, 1938 - June 20, 2020
Larry McNish passed away peacefully in hospice in Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at the age of 81.
Larry was born in Brandon, Manitoba to parents Murdoch and Evelyn McNish (nee Chapman). He was the second of their six children and their eldest son. When Larry was 16, Evelyn resettled her children in Vancouver, while Larry moved to Edmonton to restart his life. There he married Lynn Ann Lewis on August 18, 1958.
Larry and Lynn raced sports cars and traveled extensively across Canada and the United States. Larry completed his secondary schooling at night and earned a diploma in Marketing from NAIT while working full time. Larry and Lynn moved to Australia for work and adventure in 1963, returning home the next year in anticipation of the birth of their daughter, Kathy. Their son Rob followed two years later. The family moved to Calgary in 1971 where Larry managed a hardware department at Woodward's and Lynn worked at the Calgary Credit Bureau. In 1977, Larry and Lynn started their own business, McNish Marketing. They worked and traveled together until retirement, which they split between Sylvan Lake, Alberta and Manzanillo, Mexico.
The family enjoyed travel, adventure, day trips, driving vacations, the Canadian Rockies, Dillberry Lake, dinners out, skiing and camping. Larry was a widely read and informed man, willing to engage anyone in discussion. His intelligence, wit and charm made him an interesting companion. Larry's passion was sailing, sparked by his summers as a Sea Cadet, and pursued in Alberta and Mexico until his health made it impractical.
Lynn passed away on October 12, 2017 in Sylvan Lake, at the age of 77. Larry and Lynn were married for 59 years. Larry's relationship with Lynn was the foundation for the successful lives he built for his family.
Larry is survived by his two children, Kathy McNish and Rob (Irina); his siblings Bonnie McArthur (Peter), Ken McNish, and Dave McNish; his four grandchildren, Jocelyn Paynter (Josh), Dylan Rama (Sarah), Carter McNish and Jessica McNish; his brothers-in-law Denys Lewis (Patricia) and Gord Lewis (Barb); and his nephews and nieces, Jason Lewis (Erica), Sean Lewis (Chantelle), Shannon Lewis (Claudio), Jamie Bourdon (Dan), Troy McArthur, Sarah McNish, and Stephen Jackson. Larry's sister Gwen preceded his passing. His brother Jim passed away in hospice the same day as Larry.
Larry will be interred with Lynn in the Valleyview Cemetery in Camrose, Alberta. Memorial tributes in Larry's honor may be made to Red Deer Hospice.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com