Obituary of William Roy Grier

William Roy Grier was born in Calgary, Alberta on August 21, 1925, the second child of Roy and Eva Grier. At the age of ten, Bill's father passed away, leaving his mother to raise three children during the Great Depression. Life was hard and Bill was forced to leave school at the end of Grade Ten to help support the family. While in Grade Ten he started working as a messenger at the Canadian National Telegraphs from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and sometimes to 1:00 am. He often had the task of delivering telegrams informing families of a war casualty. At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served two years as a stroker motor mechanic abroad minesweeper HMCS Lachine. Following WW 2, Bill returned to employment with the telegraph company until 1957; first, as a teletype operator and then as a branch office manager. He worked the next fifteen years for Hughes Tool /Western Rock Bit Company. In 1946, Bill married Lois Duxbury, his bride for the next sixty years. Together they raised five children: Sandra, Betty Lou, Kenneth, Richard and Carol-Ann. Bill made a commitment of faith to Jesus Christ as a child but began to grow in that relationship when he became a young father. He was actively involved in the Evangelical Free Church, serving in many capacities. His desire to know God's Word and serve his Savior led to him attending Peace River Bible Institute at the age of 46, where he took a three year program in the span of two years. Later, he enrolled in a Master of Ministry program at Trinity Western University in 1983. Bill taught at PRBI and pastored Grace Bible Fellowship in Sexsmith, Alberta for two years. In 1975, he moved to Neilburg, Saskatchewan as pastor of Manitou Evangelical Free Church. He subsequently served as pastor at Lac La Biche, Alberta and Clearwater, British Columbia. Bill had a heart for missions and made trips to Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Armenia. He also promoted Evangelical Free Church Missions before "retiring". In 1992, he and Lois moved to Dennis and Sandra's farm at Chinook. Alberta where they spent summers helping. Bill and Lois went to Arizona or Texas for the winter. Even there, Bill didn't sit idly by but served as a interim pastor. 2002 brought an unexpected move to Three Hills, Alberta when Lois had a stroke necessitating care until her death in 2007. Bill became her nurse, cook and housekeeper. After Lois passed away, he was the volunteer visitation pastor for Mount Olive Evangelical Free Church. Wanting to be closer to family, Bill moved in 2014 to Marsden, Saskatchewan where he resided until his passing. Bill went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 3, 2019 at the age of 93 years. Bill loved his Lord and Savior but will be dearly missed by his children, Sandra Ford (Dennis), son-in-law, Richard Motz, Kenneth (Paula), Richard, Carol Graham (Bruce); grandchildren, Kevin Ford (Nicola), Michelle Andres (Trent), Bryan Ford (Loreal), Curtis Ford, Lila Ford; Amanda Schmah (Mike), Pamela Engel (Luke), Marie Peterson (Matthew); Austin Grier, Jordan Grier; Kristin Jeffs (Ryan), Jocelyn Talvio (Nick), Joshua Grier (Levonne); Amy Sirett (Kagan), Benjamin Graham, Jenna Graham, Jesse Graham (Kierra); thirty two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Lois; daughter, Betty Lou Motz; parents, Roy Grier and Eva Nelson; step father, Emory Nelson; brother, Hugh Grier; sister, Jean MacDonald. If friends so desire, Memorial Donations are accepted at: Manitou Evangelical Free Church ~ Designated to Missions P.O. Box 176 Neilburg, Sakatchewan S0M 2C0 Manitou Lake Bible Camp P.O. Box 226 Marsden, Saskatchewan S0M 1P0