Saturday, May 20, 2017
I am very sorry that i cannot attend the memorial service for my cousin Ron today. Unfortunately i was not able to make my flight from Victoria to Regina this morning.
Ron and i knew each other as children, we played together each summer as the Kitimat Smallwoods would descend on Uncle Gil, Aunt Edna and Ron's home on Rothwell street, Each year in July or August we would make the trip from British Columbia to Regina, Sask and spend two or three weeks together. Ron and i were four years apart in age however i remember playing catch with him both with a baseball and a football. I was also always amazed at his memory for sports statistics. Even as a little guy he could name of the football and baseball players. I recall Uncle Gib taking us to baseball games in the summer and little Ron bringing along his baseball glove. Some summers we would all load up the cars and go up to the qu'appelle valley where our three families would camp together and have a great time.
I also have many great memories with Ron at the house on Rothwell street and our times with Grandma Smallwood listening to her stories and Grandma Denton feeding us and always making sure we got extra cake and cookies !. Rons love of sports continued all of his life of course and whenever he did get to speak his grasp of statistics both for football and baseball were simply amazing.
Following Ron's untimely death i was able to travel to Regina to take care of some of his affairs and I had the opportunity l to spend some time at his house and be reminded of his love for his family. The photos and memorbilia at the house brought back great memories of Ron and our times together as children.
Each year in the winter when he was laid off or not working we encouraged him to come to British Columbia to visit but he claimed he did not like to fly and that he needed to stay home and take care of his beloved Cadillac !.
Ron on behalf of all your British Columbia "Smallwood" cousins may you rest in peace and we know that you will be either watching tonights hockey game or the baseball game of the week.
Cousin - Wayne Braid
