(March 16, 1928 - March 22, 2025)
Born and raised at 4 Cameron Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, in a house built by his Grandfather Allard. Husband of the late Connie, father of Philip (Outer Cove, NL), Margaret Barbeau (Paul, Sault) and Diane Brooks (Bill Derus, Goulais Bay), grandfather of Rachelle Barbeau (Sault), Andrew Barbeau (Michaela) and Jane Brooks (Outer Cove and St. John's, NL). Son of the late Albert (Spaak) Brooks and the late Elsie (Allard) Brooks. Brother of the late Albert (late Lorna) and the late Jack (Eva).
Lloyd helped his family work their large garden at 4 Cameron Avenue, "while" attending Tarentorus School (~NE corner Northern Ave./Great Northern Rd.) Kindergarten to Grade 8 where he, alternating with other students, arrived early, in winter snowshoeing the mile from Cameron Ave. (the city didn't plough roads north of McNabb St.) to pile wood in the stove, light the fire to heat the school's two classrooms and smash the ice in the drinking water pail to receive the communal dipper which all drank from. He attended Sault Collegiate before leaving to work at Travelade Motors (and racing their stock car), followed by six years at Algoma Steel in the electrical department (including 3 years at the Coke Ovens inspecting motors) and finally to Mannesmann Tube Co. where he helped complete construction of the mill and then worked for 30 years as Plug Mill operator (Hot Mill), retiring at age 59.
In ~1954, Lloyd's dad, who got his groceries at Reid's Grocery Store (top of Bruce Hill) helped Ken Reid construct a camp at Pine Shores, Goulais Bay. Shortly after completion, a "camp" fire nearby claimed the life of a woman, rattling Mr. Reid who revealed to Lloyd's dad, Albert, that he was about to sell the camp. Albert replied that Lloyd would be especially keen to purchase it. So, in 1955, the year Philip was born, our family acquired "camp," the (humble) jewel in our family crown and Philip in 2024 connected the last dot, acquiring the camp in which that fire occurred. Every year, late June, the family car was loaded, as if in The Grapes of Wrath, and driven to Pine Shores, where we remained until early September, dad commuting to work. We marinated in nature, standing in water as minnows nibbled our feet, swimming, skin-diving, canoeing, boating, hiking, berry-picking, reading on the warm sand, and observing nature in the bay and vibrant marsh behind the camp. We thank our dad for this marvellous, forming experience.
Dad with brother Jack and friends had one of three camps on remote Moose (Bone) Lake, which in the early years (early 1960’s) we would snowshoe hours through bush and over several lakes to reach, portaging the canoe to the lake in spring and summer, the setting changed to hinterland Searchmont in later years.
Dad was a heavy reader and, along with our mother, returned every few weeks with an armful of books from the library, strictly non-fiction for dad. After snowmobiles replaced snowshoes, dad joined the Trailblazer’s Snowmobile Club. Outside of the club, he snowmobiled with a friend around Lake Superior on two separate occasions, and from the Sault to Timmins.
Our dad was loyal, generous, kind, punctual (living by the watch, arriving early), disciplined, hard-working, honest, humble, uncomplaining, gentlemanly, and a dapper dresser in his day. He enjoyed engaging strangers throughout his many travels with our mother (Britain, Mexico, Turkey, Philippines, Malaysia) and relating their stories. Our mother remarked that our dad had "eyes like a hawk."
Our dad was a dancer. Sort of. He gave literal meaning to the phrase “dance his socks off” at many a festive occasion.
Dad visited the Station Mall food court near McDonald’s twice daily, a meeting place in retirement of fellow Tube Mill workers, a warm embrace, exchanging news and stories and walking the mall for exercise.
"Our Lloyd," as our mother (from Northeast England) referred to him, was a wonderful man and we were lucky to have him in our lives. Though his work wasn't lucrative he was a generous provider who along with our mother, gave us a solid, stable, loving home life.
The family wish to thank the generous caregivers at Great Northern Retirement Home, Home and Community Care, and Extendicare Van Daele staff. All were very warm, attentive, and considerate toward our dad.
If anyone wishes to make a donation, the Royal Canadian Legion of which Lloyd had been a member since 1976 would be fitting, or any kindness extended to a caregiver as they make all the difference to those in need.
Arrangements entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.northwoodfuneral.com