Andrew Hourie

Andrew James Hourie

With great sadness the family mourns the peaceful passing of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at the age of 93 years.​

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Left to mourn his passing are his beloved children, Jacqueline, Tom, Yvonne, Don, Sheila (Brian), and Sylvia (Dennis); grandchildren, Earl (Tamara), Tyrone (Qualynn), Cory, Tanys, Tera, Clem, Melissa (Mike), Jennifer, Holly, Orry, Adam, Justin (Marina), Tanner (Amy), Destiny (Cody), Colton (Marlee), Kaylin (Cody), Jesse (Tessa), and Sara; great-grandchildren, Breeanna (Keith), Ondrea, Steven, Tannica, Dawson, Shayna, Lance, Elizabeth, Nevaeh, Tryce, Jailyn, Emily, Oakland, Orry Jr., Shade, Devin, Lexi, Brielle, Duke, Karter,  Jaxon, Max, Alyssa, and Aria; sisters, Maggie and Gert (Douglas), brother Roy (Marilyn); numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.  Andrew was predeceased by his loving wife, Helen, sons, Gordon, Bruce, and Brian, and daughter, Verna; grandson Daniel; parents, Bill and Daisy (Swan) Hourie; siblings, Mary, Winnie, George, Florence, John, Dorothy, Gladys, and Martin.​

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Andrew was born on December 16, 1925 on the blueberry hills in Thalberg, MB, where his family lived for most of his younger years, then his Dad bought some land in Stony Point MB where the family home currently sits.  Andrew had a strong work ethic right from a young age, he finished school in grade six to go to work to help support the family.  Andrew had been around horses all his life; therefore forming a deep bond with the hard-working animal he loved to work with and enjoy.  At the age of 14 he went on his own with a team of horses, nearly getting lost in the snow one winter near Devils Island.  He came upon a camp where some fellows took him in and kept his team of horses warm and fed for the night.  He worked in the bush from as near as his family home and surrounding areas, to the far north of Northern Lake Winnipeg, at the Spider Islands.  This is where he met the love of his life, Helen, who worked as a "cookie" or kitchen helper.  They married May 3, 1952 and had 10 children.  Andrew was a commercial fisherman of Southern Lake Winnipeg most of his life, eventually retiring.  Only Andrew could not sit still.  He had to be doing something.  He eventually started to cut wood, or "wooding" as his family affectionately called it, cutting down trees off his land to make firewood.  He then started collecting scrap metal and anything that was worth taking in to Mandak.  Andrew worked for as long as he could.  In his later years his passion was cutting his grass with his riding lawnmower.  He took great pride in his property and only when he was pleased with his work, or if it was raining, he would park the lawnmower and go inside.  Up until last year, at the age of 92, Andrew was still cutting his grass.  He was saddened when he could no longer do it.​

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Andrew received a Commercial Fisherman's Award from the Province of Manitoba as well as a picture from the Sgt. Tommy Prince family of the several awards that Tommy Prince received in his life.  This was from a time when Andrew was up north working in the bush, whilst in the same camp as Tommy Prince.  While horsing around in the bunkhouse, Andrew cut his arm on a window which severed a vein that kept bleeding.  If not for Tommy Princes' quick thinking by making a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, Andrew may not have made it out of that camp alive.  The family is forever grateful for Tommy Prince. This presentation by the family of Tommy Prince was captured during an interview by the media.   

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Above all, his greatest accomplishment was his family. Strong family values were a strong part of Andrew's life and he instilled those same values in his children who will continue on with the family legacy.  Andrew was a very devoted husband.  In later years he would drive his wife Helen to wherever she needed to go, not because she did not drive herself but because of illness.  He drove to Winnipeg, Pine Falls, and eventually to Selkirk, three times a week for dialysis.  At times sleeping in the vehicle until she was finished her treatment for the day. ​

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Viewing will be Monday, July 15th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, 309 Eveline St, Selkirk. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 16th at 11:00 a.m. also at the Chapel, with Reverend Mawejji officiating followed by a luncheon at the Patricia Beach Community Club.​

Honorary Pallbearers are Roy Hourie Sr, Douglas Klatt, Simon Ateah, Doc Vezina, Charlie Wass and Bob Cook.

He had a special bond with his nephews Johnny Hourie and Chuck Sinclair.  He was loved by not only his family but all in the community and surrounding areas. 

Special thanks to Cassie McLean and Adele Duff during his stay in Pine Falls and to everyone else who was able to drop by and visit Dad while he was at home and in the hospital.  There are too many to mention.

The family would like to immensely thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Emergency Department, and Medicine Ward of the Selkirk & District General Hospital, Pine Falls Hospital, and Red River Place. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.​

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