Reginald Francis Spokes passed away on July 26, 2012 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre with family - Lee & Dave Skilnick and Carol Richie by his side. Reg was born on June 22, 1913 in Tamworth, England. In April of 1926, he came to Canada with his parents and brothers. Reg chose not to attend school in Canada and instead he worked doing odd jobs for farmers. In 1929, he went to work for W.T. Thompson and except for the 2 years, 1945 and 1946, Reg worked for W.T. Thompson until his passing in 1947. On June 19, 1946, Reg and Mary Dempster were united in marriage. Reg managed the farm for Beryl and Mabel (until they sold the farm and moved into town in 1971). In 1973 Reg and Mary moved into Saltcoats. He then worked at various jobs, caretaking at the senior units, odd jobs for farmers as well as helping his wife Mary in the Lucky Dollar Store from January 1972 - March 1975. Reg was a farmer at heart and he went back to farming working for Vern Temple during the summers for 12-13 years while Vern worked doing construction. When his health forced him to quit farming, he kept busy with volunteer work around town. He was always ready to help friends and neighbours with odd jobs, repair work, cutting grass, blowing snow, cultivating gardens, etc. Reg was an active member of the United Church board of session and tried to keep the church in good repair. He was a member of the Saltcoats Rural Telephone Co. as well as an active volunteer at Lakeside Manor Care Home. Reg and Mary enjoyed travelling and went on many bus trips, seeing a lot of the United States and Canada. In 1997 they took their trip of a lifetime and went to England and Europe. Reg enjoyed fishing and boating. He also enjoyed visiting and having friends and relatives visit with him. In later years, he spent many hours latch hooking rugs and wall hangings. As poor health crept up, Reg and Mary decided to move into the Bentley Retirement Community in Yorkton in December of 2008, where he resided until his passing. Reg was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2010; his parents, George and Ellen Spokes (Matthews); brothers, Horace, Stan, Dick and Jim; niece, Dawn Tait; nephew, Rick Spokes and great nephew, Ryan Herritt. He is survived by his sisters-in law, Crissy Spokes, Ellen Miles and Rose Harrison; brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Irene) Dempster, Ray (Mary) Dempster and Roy Dempster; as well as nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. A Graveside Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 in the Saltcoats Town Cemetery with Reverend Walter Farquharson officiating. The pallbearers were Barry Ritchie, Dave Skilnick, Kevin Temple, Terry Spokes, Roman Gaida and Gordon Spokes. A reception and time of fellowship and remembering followed in the Stirling Room, Saltcoats, SK. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
