Cyril (Cy) George Lawrance was born on April 17, 1926, in Birtle, Manitoba, the son of Henry and Clara (Bray) Lawrance, and passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014.

Family was very important in Cy’s life. He married Phyllis June Maddaford on August 17, 1953. Together they raised five children, instilling in each of them the value of a good education, a solid work ethic, and support of each other. They celebrated the successes and achievements of each of their children’s accomplishments.

Cy’s strong work ethic began early on his parents’ farm as he helped them and the neighbours. He operated heavy equipment, built roads and cleared land, and attained journeyman status as a mechanic. From these beginnings, he bought and operated several businesses including Melville Yorkton Express (trucking company), Melville Motors (service garage, which he expanded to include school buses and a mail contract), and the Robinson’s Store in Melville. Cy also sold real estate for Melville Agencies before finishing his work career as the manager of Melville Housing Authority.

Cy loved the community of Melville, having lived here for almost 60 years, and he often wished his children would have settled here. As a man dedicated to his community, Cy served on the Melville Public School Board for a number of terms, where he promoted the development of the band program and the building of the Melville Comprehensive School. He was a Lions Club member for 30 years, Chamber of Commerce member and president, treasurer of the Melville Heritage Museum, original board member of the Melville Housing Authority, and president of Donor’s Choice.

First United Church was very important to him, and he spent countless hours on committees and helping to maintain the building. He enjoyed greeting the congregation at the door of the church.

Cy had many hobbies, which included camping with his family, travelling with Phyllis, wintering in Arizona in early retirement years, and researching his family’s genealogy. In later years he became addicted to the computer, which helped satisfy his curiosity about things and kept him in touch with family and friends. Above all he had a passion for fixing things. As he said, “If it comes apart, I’ll take it apart.”

Cy was the beloved husband of Phyllis June (Maddaford) Lawrance for 61 years and father of Debbie Dramnitzki of Yorkton, SK, Dwight (Debi) Lawrance of Arnprior, ON, Neil (Janet) Lawrance of Yorkton, SK, Murray (Crystal) Lawrance of Steinbach, MB, and Shelley (David) Trueman of Waterloo, ON; cherished grandfather of Michael and Ryan Dramnitzki, Erin (Marc) Howlett; Sarah Lawrance, Jessica (Rod) Heinz, Rebecca (Andrew) Gravelle, Ronald and Stewart Garson; Bonnie, Amy and Kristen Lawrance; Carolyn and Jonathon Lawrance; Benjamin, Rosa and Jessamine Trueman; great-grandfather of Harriet Howlett, Colette and Celeste Heinz and Paige Gravelle. Cy is also survived by his brother Dixon Lawrance, his brother-in-law Harley (Rae) Maddaford and sisters-in-law Irene Maddaford and Lynn (Dave) Wrishko, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Cy was predeceased by his parents Henry and Clara Lawrance, Phyllis’s parents Charles and Annie Maddaford, sister Frances Lane and her husband Len, and sister-in-law Gladys Lawrance, as well as brothers-in-law Dean Maddaford and Robert Regimbal and son-in-law Bruce Dramnitzki.