Obituary of Louis Wayne Stevens

Lou was taken from us after a courageous fight against the last of a number of health challenges that he has faced over the last five years. His determination, pride and wry sense of humour stayed with him throughout, and he has left his family and friends with many cherished memories. Born in Danville, Illinois, Lou led a long, productive and very rewarding life. Known as “Red”, as a young man, his education was interrupted by service in the US Marines during the Second World War, where he attained the rank of Master Sergeant stationed in the Philippines. Following the war he returned to the University of Chicago, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering, and began working for Shell Oil. This was the beginning of a long and successful career in the oil patch as a Geophysicist and Executive. A true pioneer of the Canadian oil industry, Lou came to southern Alberta with Shell in 1949 as Party Chief & Observer on the first Shell seismic crew in Western Canada. Despite, as he often recalled, being shocked by the cold temperatures, he fell in love with Calgary and the area, and made the decision to make the city home for himself and his family. Lou left Shell after seventeen years to join Central Del-Rio Oil, which soon merged with Canadian Pacific Oil and Gas to become PanCanadian Petroleum. There Lou served as Chief Geophysicist, moved to London for several years as UK Exploration Manager, and returned to Calgary as the US Operations Manager. In the late seventies he joined Amerada-Hess in Calgary as VP Exploration. Throughout his career in Calgary, Lou was very active in the communities in which he lived as well as with the CSEG, and he especially enjoyed the annual Doodlebug Golf Tournament. In 1981, he met and married Diane, who has been the love of his life ever since. About a year after they wed, Lou and Diane moved to Denver and spent many happy years in that foothills city. Although still working as a consultant, Lou had begun to take more time to enjoy life outside of work. Their home in Denver became known as the “Stevens Resort”, and they delighted in taking their young grandchildren on motor excursions throughout the western US during summer holidays. In 1997, Lou and Diane returned to Calgary, in large part to be near their grandkids and the rest of the family. Lou will be dearly missed by all of us. He is survived by his beloved wife Diane, a brother, Jim (Jan), daughters Phyllis and Trish (Jeff), a son, Dave (Carol) and step son Philip. “Grandpa” will be greatly missed by Kristi and Richie (Stevens), and Christopher and Matthew (Sardinha). Lou was predeceased by his first wife, Jane, also from Danville, in 1976, his second wife Elise in 1980 and his step son Jody in 1994. Memorial services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: (403) 521-3433. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at the Rockyview General Hospital Unit 74 for their excellent care and attention towards Lou over these last two weeks. A special thank you goes to Pam Asheton, our guardian angel who watched over Lou to the very end. In living memory of Lou Stevens, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.