Mr. Brian Patrick Lyttle

November 1, 1943 - February 10, 2016

Nov 1, 1943 – February 10, 2016 On Wednesday, February 10, 2016 Brian Lyttle of High River died peacefully with his loving family by his side. Brian had been dealing with lung issues for about 40 years. Brian will be ever missed by his loving wife of forty-five years, Leonie; three children, Nicole (Jeff) Boynton, Kieran (Johanna) Lyttle, and Bryna (Daniel) Ronald; and four grandchildren, Erin, Emma, Amy & Elliot. Brian Lyttle was born in Moose Jaw, Sask., where his father was stationed with the British Royal Air Force and was called back on active service in 1944. When the war was over, Brian ‘s father took the family to his home town of Belfast. The family returned to Canada in the late summer of 1956. The family first lived in Saskatchewan but followed work opportunities to Calgary a year later. Brian at 15 completed Grade 11 at Holy Trinity High School in Forest Lawn. To help his family, he quit school and began apprenticing in a sheet metal shop. Brian’s father (44) died of a heart attack the following year. In these tough times, Brian stuck with his apprenticeship and brought his pay cheque home to his mother. By the time Brian was 20, he was a journeyman tradesman. At 23, he booked passage on the Empress of Canada (a CPR ship) to Europe and found jobs in England. He later returned to Canada on the same ship and met Leonie Bourassa in Calgary, Alberta. They got married on Dec. 23, 1970. Leonie encouraged him to go to University and he was admitted on Adult privileges without benefit of a high school diploma. Brian completed his Bachelor of Education degree and obtained a position at Bishop Grandin High School in Calgary teaching Art, Welding, and English. In the late 70’s, Brian returned to his trade as a self-employed contractor. From that point, Brian had a number of careers. He installed rock work, fireplaces, and forced air heating systems, and did decorative architectural metal work. For some years, he spent the fall in the mountains, cooking and wrangling in hunting camps. To him, there were 2 seasons, hunting season and waiting-for-hunting season. In 1982, Brian turned his metal working skills towards making knives. He exhibited his work in Canada, the US, & France and had clients around the world. From the fall of 2010 till February 2016, Brian was Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Trustee for the Foothills district where he lived. A Funeral Mass was held on Monday, February 15, 2016 at St. James Catholic Church, 338040 – 32nd Street East, Okotoks. To send condolences and view Brian’s Tribute Page, please visit www.lylereeves.com . Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (403.652.4242). Eulogy for Brian Lyttle Written by son Kieran Lyttle Thank you to everyone for coming today and thank you Father Jack and Father Yarek for the beautiful service. Thank you to Terry and the choir and to Scott and Michael for delivering the readings. Well I know the first thing dad would say in this situation would be “don’t get maudlin and keep this thing short”, so let’s not disappoint. I keep coming back to one thought about Dad. Never will you meet a man who more faithfully lived his values. When dad was 10 years old, he knew he would one day live in a beautiful place. He didn’t know how that would happen, but he knew it would because he always kept it up here (in his mind). When dad was growing up in Belfast, he lived on the outskirts where there were some hills and pasture land, and he loved going out and roaming those hills. There began his love for the outdoors and his lifelong passion for finding a way to just stay outside…hunting and fishing, of course. His other passion was learning--it was his lifelong pursuit. He was self-made and self-reliant. From his education to his career, from his skill with every kind of tool, Dad engaged with the world as a man who would be its master. Brian said that if you consider yourself to have any kind of a decent life, it doesn’t mean earning a living, but fully understanding and appreciating the world around you. He would say to read 2 newspapers a day cover to cover, read novels, read whatever you can get your hands on, that is the only way to fix stupid…an affliction, of course, he never had. For Brian, evidence and facts, were the basis of everything. It is imperative to keep your education going, you have the ability and obligation to be smart, whatever your job may be. He said “our duty as children was and is to become educated and to make our parents proud, not necessarily through our careers, but with what is in our head and how we treat others.” Brian believed that parents are the primary educators of their children, that “when you watch your parents, for good or for bad, that’s the way it works”—I can say with absolute certainty that Nicole, Bryna and I were educated to the highest degree. I love the story of when Dad was a teacher at Bishop Grandin and he came into class and told them there was to be a quiz. He was met with a bit of a negative reaction because no one had done the assigned work. Well, at that point he saw a moment to teach in a very Brian Lyttle way. He told the class he had to make some copies and then would return to deliver the quiz, in the process “accidently” leaving the quiz face up on his desk. One of the students noticed this and went to the front of the class to then teach everyone else the content of the quiz and thereby the lesson. Brian watched this go on from a neighbouring class room while drinking a coffee and reading the newspaper. He was always able to get people from A to B without them even knowing it. Brian was a teacher of all things. His method was simple. He taught by explanation and example. He taught that making a blade, simply put, consists of taking a piece or multiple pieces of otherwise unremarkable materials and applying heat and pressure and creating something that is remarkable, but still holds the essence of those humble beginnings. That was Brian. A remarkable man. Looking at everyone here today, Brian would honestly say that he was quite surprised by the turnout. He never fully understood, or perhaps chose not to understand his positive impact on those around him. His gift was that he was so accessible--from hells angels to lawyers, dad had a way about him that everyone could relate to and value. He was always the most engaging person in the room. When he walked in, he didn’t command attention, but that attention was always his. From people that wanted to meet him to those that wanted another shot at a lost argument, Brian made the time for everyone and relished engaging with others. On a trip down to my Dad’s favorite spot on the Highwood River a couple days ago, I heard it said that Brian was the one person that when you met him you entered into a clean slate. From that point on, it was up to you to show him what type of person you were--he did not have preconceived notions about anyone. When it came right down to it, everyone was equal. Brian also appreciated the finer points of alcohol. He soundly understood the Irish saying that “God had put alcohol in just about everything so that we would find it”, and find it he did! He enjoyed the science behind making it as much as the result it delivered. He also believed it was his responsibility to again educate others on how to find and cultivate this special offering from the Lord. His students, with the exception of one 3 am call regarding a certain fiery situation, conducted themselves with the discretion Brian bestowed upon them. In January, Dad and I set out to make a knife and it was a series of moments that have changed how I look at life’s various hurdles. It is no secret that his last few years were hard on him, both physically and emotionally, but it might have well been the best kept secret in the land because he never, not even once, complained about a thing. There has never been another person who has been as positive about being alive as Brian. As kids if we were being “moody or mopey”, his one response would be to Velcro on a smile and be happy you’re alive, value the gift of life, there is no time to squander it. At the time, I didn’t appreciate what would be the best advice I will ever be given, but as you grow up and see the world and life as it is, you realize the worth of his words. His character is the foundation of my conscience. Dad loved my mother with every bone in his body, his visible affection overcoming his usual reserve. Dad’s unfaltering support for Mom’s personal development in her career and in life created the perfect balance creating a childhood for me and my sisters that gave us insight into what true love and commitment means. This love was carried into his very last words. The night before he died my mother was by his side sleeping in a cot that was provided by the hospital. My dad woke in the middle of the night and my mom got up to check on him and moved his air mask so he could talk. His three words were “are YOU ok?” Nothing speaks to his character, compassion and love for Leonie more than those simple words. Dad gave us, his family, a parting gift that I believe in every part of me was fully intended. On Wednesday morning with all of us gathered around him, my mother in bed next to him and his three children holding her and him tightly, he took his last breath and Brian moved on. In what should have been the most horrible moment of our lives sprang the most perfect and beautiful moment I have ever been a part of. We were able to be with him in moving to that beautiful place that he had envisioned as a child so many years ago.