Annable
Malcolm Ross Annable, A.K.A. Ross, Roscoe or Tonto, was born in Stettler on Jan. 1, 1939.
The gift that year for the first baby born in Stettler was a free birth certificate worth 50 cents.
He was the third child of 10 born to Clifford and Hilda Annable.
They lived in Nevis in a log house built by his grandfather Gus Emblau.
He went to school in Nevis, Big Valley and Aunger.
At 15 years of age, he quit school and went out into the working world.
As soon as he was old enough to get his driver’s license his life was mostly trucking for many different jobs sometimes taking him into B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba hauling oil, gravel, cement, coal, livestock etc.
Ross also worked at the Macleods store and for a few farmers.
He enjoyed horseshoes, bowling, curling, golf, fishing, fastball, baseball, singing and playing most instruments he could get his hands on.
He had his special way of playing the spoons.
He played guitar for the 4K’s Band and other bands for many dances. He loved to dance.
His favourite sport was baseball. He played on the Erskine Midget team, winning Provincials two years in a row. The Toronto Blue Jays were his team.
Second was his love of fishing or camping with bonfires and music with family and friends.
He met Marion Johnson of Byemoor in 1957.
On June 5, 1959 they had a double wedding with his brother Mason and Marion’s sister Dorothy.
To this union was the arrival of three wonderful sons, Cerwin (1960), Terry (1964) wife Janet and Trevor (1967).
His seven grandchildren included Ryan, Chanel, Bronson wife Michaela, Loshawna, Breck, Cutler and Gage, plus one great-grandson, Rio.
They moved to Big Valley in 1968 and lived there ever since.
When he retired he spent many days just driving everywhere to visit anyone to share stories and a joke or two.
Ross passed away peacefully at the Stettler Hospital on May 29, 2020 with Marion by his side.
They had almost 61 happy years together.
He will be lovingly remembered by Marion and all his family as well as brothers Archie Donald (June), Larry (Grace), sisters Gayle (Archie) and Karen, all of Marion’s family, his grandchildren plus numerous nieces, nephews and many great friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Mason and Ted, sisters Dona Mundorf and Sharon Nicklom and one granddaughter Samara Annable.
A private graveside service was held at the Big Valley Cemetery on June 5, 2020 at 2 p.m. with Lori Gordon officiating.
