Obituary of Lorne Murray Hay

Lorne Murray Hay April, 30, 1932- January 3, 2020 Lorne Murray Hay. This is his life: Mom, Family, Square Dancing, Travel, Community. A scant 65 miles divided Dad’s birthplace (Delaware, ON) and resting place (Goderich, ON) yet it was the times and miles between that counted! Our Father was shuttled between Windsor and Glencoe for the first years of his life as he developed into a headstrong young man. A story he loved to tell was one of three friends hellbent on getting across the river to Detroit using railroad ties strapped together with thick ropes and youthful optimism. Of course just as the ties started to unravel, Marine Border Police plucked the boys out of the frigid waters. Dad was a great storyteller! Given the option, our Dad chose to enter the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 18 and quickly found his home. Basic training began in Petrolia and Clinton followed up further with Radar Training in Lac St. Denis, Quebec where he met a gorgeous brunet named Betty Mitchell. Hailing from the West Coast, Dad was certain she was way out of his league..however and, thank goodness, she was equally smitten and they were married in 1953. Children became their focus and soon Gordon (Anne), Kathy and Wayne were born in fairly quick succession and Collingwood became home. Through friends, a new interest got their attention and square dancing became an occupation for both our Parents. Dad became a popular and just short of a Professional Square Dance Caller. Mom became equally as popular and widely admired as a Round Dance Cuer. Together they were the “Dream Team” and as a family we travelled many miles for this work. Moving to Barrie (Midhurst) we built the Hayloft Square Dance Hall and finally, dancers came to us. During this time, Dad worked in Real Estate before becoming a Broker on his own. The Hay’s were known for their Black Light Dancers square dance group who were invited to demonstrate their dancing at Expo ’67 in Montreal. Also in 1967, Bob Osgoode of famed Sets and Orders Magazine sent our Parents a record (yep that’s what they were back then) and asked them to write a round dance to it. And they did! Named “Red Carnations”, it made the Round Dance of the Month in Canada and the United States - a huge accomplishment and lifetime achievement for both of them. With the support of the local dancers, our Parents decided to travel with a group to Hawaii in 1976 and from that tour Hay’s Travel Service was born. A new passion and excitement took over our home and for the first time in years our Mom went to work in the new office space (read: desk) within Lorne Hay Real Estate. It wasn’t long before Dad got the bug and officially closed the real estate company to take on full responsibilities within Hay’s Travel Service and its new tour division, Hay’s Travel Tours. From that point too when our Parents formally retired 37 years later from Hay’s Travel Tours - For Happy Days Travel with the Hays, they visited over 50 countries with hundreds of thrilled and fulfilled clients. Some destinations were one time events like Brazil but then some like Portugal a second country they loved with all their hearts was a group tour destination on 38 occasions. One couple travelled with our Parents 34 times! Their love of travel has been passed down to their grandchildren Gordon and Anne’s Olivia and Liam along with Wayne’s (Janet) Zach (Amanda) and Jocelyn all caught the travel bug and now find ways to fit it into their busy professional lives. Along with their love for travel and at different points along their journey together, our Parents found opportunities over the years to relax. Summertime boating in the Severn Waterways, wintering in their Tucson casita and finally getting to spend many happy hours on Brandy Lake near Port Carling in their beloved cottage. When our Mom passed away on April 22, 2016, our Father grieved the loss of his best friend and soulmate until the day he died. Still he took one more courageous step and moved, along with his daughter Kathy, to Goderich after living in Barrie since 1966. In Goderich he found a new community to embrace and bring together through his love for cooking and entertaining in his new home. Although only here a year and 44 days, his presence was large. Whether it was the Pancake Breakfast in February when he made enough homemade mix to feed 80+ people or driving around on his fire-engine red scooter talking to everyone on the streets, Dad was loved. 65 miles and a whole world in between; our Father has smiled his last smile and will be missed! Henry Miller said, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Here are a few comments from friends we wanted to share: “I have known Lorne for 45 years and always thought of him as one of the finest gentlemen I have known. His integrity was above reproach . His concern for others was unlimited.” M., Barrie “Our relation since the first time that we met grew and was a way beyond business... it was, friendship, love, care and lots of fun. Tell Lorne that we love him like family as we love Betty, see the picture enclosed of your Mom and me after an hospitality desk, enjoying some time together under the sun... We will always remember them as a perfect couple, that I learned a lot with, and that made me become a better person…” T., Portugal “What an amazing man!! He had a wonderfully fulfilling life and left it the same way he lived it - with a smile. I am sorry to say that I really didn't know how much pain and discomfort he was in because he never let on. His emails were always so uplifting and educational. He introduced me to Andre Rieu whose talent I greatly admire. I remember when we met him and Beauti and still have the tee shirt that he commented on "Aging with Style" which described him perfectly! Every time I wear that shirt, I think of him”. J/B., Ohio A Celebration of Life will be held at The Bluffs of Huron Community Centre, Goderich, ON on Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 1:00 to 4:00pm. RSVP - kathy.hay@icloud.com