Devoted family man, farmer, businessman, lifelong Scouter, friend. Born May 9, 1919, near Portreeve, Sask. Died Dec. 20, 2011, in Sceptre, Sask., of old age, at 92.
Roy Boylan grew up on the family farm with his parents, John and Orpha, and his sister, Mina. When Roy wasn't helping with chores, he was busy building ham radios with his friends and taking things apart to see how they worked.
He received his electrical licences in 1943 and set up shop in Sceptre, Sask., three years later. Roy helped to install power in the surrounding towns and farms, was instrumental in bringing furnaces and air conditioners to the area, and brought the first television to Sceptre. For years, Boylan Electric was the hot spot on Saturday nights, showing ball games in the summer and hockey in the winter.
Roy was ahead of his time. He attended trade conferences all over North America to learn about emerging technologies, and was always eager to bring what he had learned back to his shop and community. Just 10 days before Roy's death, Boylan Electric celebrated its 65th year of business.
Farming was another major part of Roy's life. He started out buying and shipping cattle with his father. Later, he bought and farmed land near Sceptre while still farming his dad's homestead. He loved the land and continued to help with the harvest into his 90s.
Above all else, Roy was a family man. In 1941, he married Hazel Bell. After 70 years of marriage, you could still catch them looking at each other with a certain twinkle in their eyes. Hazel still found Roy's jokes funny, and he still loved to make her laugh.
They had five children – Elaina, Janet, Rodger, Gwen and Patti – 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Roy loved nothing more than being surrounded by his family. On such occasions, you could find him in the corner, smiling at the sights and sounds of everyone he loved gathered under one roof.
Roy was a great friend. Each night after supper, he would head to his shop. More often than not, you'd find him and several friends gathered around the TV watching rodeo and shooting the breeze. Roy cared about his community and was always there to lend a helping hand. He was active in scouting and was recognized for 35 years of service by Scouts Canada in 2000.
In his later years, Roy refused to let his age, lack of sight or loss of hearing stop him from doing the things he loved. Well into his 80s, he'd think nothing of moving a fridge by himself or pulling a tree stump out of the ground with his bare hands, sometimes dressed in his Sunday best.
Roy taught us all that the secret to a good life is simple – work hard, laugh often and cherish time spent with those we love. His passing is a reminder that life is precious, and his legacy lives on in the loving family he built with his wife and in the small community he helped shape. He may be gone, but never forgotten.
By Leah Sharpe, Roy's granddaughter.