Obituary of Garrett Wilson

NIALL GARRETT ARDRI WILSON, Q.C.

Garrett Wilson passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the age of 85 years. He is survived by his loving children, Lesley and her sons, Rory and Brendan (Ottawa); Tara (Don) and their sons, Stephen (Morgan) their daughters Carys and Dylan, Sean (Lauren) their daughter Rowan, Mathew, and Gabriel (Regina), Kevin (Gail) and their children Carolyn and Graham (Saskatoon), and step-daughter Danielle (Darren) and their children, Bennett and Emma. A passionate son of Saskatchewan, Garrett was born and raised in Limerick, SK. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with an undergraduate degree, law degree, and a commission in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Garrett practised law in Regina, culminating in an award of Honourary Life Membership in the Law Society of Saskatchewan. He was active in a northern outfitting and a grain/cattle operation. Garrett was also deeply involved in the Liberal Party in the 1960s and 1970s, at both the provincial and federal levels. He and Merle raised their family in Regina and made wonderful memories at Namew Lake in Northern Saskatchewan and at Buena Vista on Last Mountain Lake, where his children and grandchildren could always count on some great stories from dad. Garrett was a licensed private pilot, avid outdoorsman, devoted historian, gifted gardener, voracious reader, and engaging raconteur. His children and grandchildren have followed in his footsteps with a love of reading and history. Later in his life, Garrett and Jacquie Stewart enjoyed travels and entertaining. He is the author of several published books, including Frontier Farewell, which received the 2007 Saskatchewan Book Award for Scholarly Writing. Garrett is a former director of the Advisory Council of The Writers’ Trust of Canada, former president of the Saskatchewan Book Awards, and a 2012 recipient of the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Achievement Award. Celebration of Garrett’s life will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Garrett and lifelong friend Murray Mackay enjoyed regular visits to their hometown of Limerick. There will be a private family interment in the Limerick Cemetery. As there was always a beloved dog at dad’s side, donations in memory of Garrett may be made to the Regina Humane Society, Box 3143, Regina, SK S4P 3G7.