Obituary of Gordon Lewis Black

Gordon Black, beloved husband of Dorothy McEwen Black, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at the Rockyview General Hospital on Thursday, November 27, 2003 at the age of 86 years. Gordon was born in Medicine Hat, AB where he was raised and educated. At eighteen years of age he moved to Lethbridge, where he worked for the Hoyt Hardware Company, assuming the management of the company at twenty-two years of age, an age he allowed was “too young for wisdom.” Perhaps that lack of wisdom contributed to his purchasing Hoyt’s from his father. Gordon went on to build the company from a small Lethbridge hardware store into a western Canadian wholesale distributor that is now seen in the market through a number of businesses including Explosives Limited, BXL Bulk Explosives Limited, Western Canada Welding Products Ltd., Natayo Manufacturing, and a number of subsidiary and affiliated businesses comprising the G. L. Black Holdings Ltd. group of businesses. Gordon was also active in the community serving on the Lethbridge Regional Hospital Board (1962 to 1970), Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce (past President 1961), the Masonic Lodge and Shrine Al Azhar Temple and ROJ. He was also a member of the Calgary Golf and Country Club. Gordon and Dorothy married on August 21, 1943 in Medicine Hat and raised their family in Lethbridge, moving to Calgary in 1970. Dad, our circle is broken but your legacy is strong. Besides his loving wife Dode, he is survived and will be missed by his four children, Barbara Huston (Bryan) of Lethbridge, Margaret Nelson (Roy) and Kenneth Black (Bonny) of Calgary, and Robert Black of Penticton; seven grandchildren, Kevan (Ana) Huston of New York City, Megan Huston of Halifax, Timothy Nelson of Calgary, Paul Nelson of Elkford, Sydney and Cameron Black of Calgary, and Allison Black of Penticton; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Black of Medicine Hat, Hilda McEwen of Calgary; two nephews, Bob (Dixie) Black and Graham (Pearl) Black; and a niece Jane (Arnold) Dreger. Funeral Services will be held at Living Spirit United Church (900 – 47th Avenue S.W.), on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 at 1:00 P.M. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Shriner’s Hospital For Children, Box 70038, Bowness Postal Outlet, Calgary, AB T3B 5K3. Telephone: (403) 239-0030. In living memory of Gordon Black, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 243-8200.