Earl Duncan McNair

Earl Duncan McNair was born on January 25, 1942 which just happened to be Robert Burns Day. Earl took his early schooling at New Market and then attended high school in Tisdale. He was a typical Saskatchewan Farm Boy and helped with chores, drove tractor and stacked bales. He lived with his Aunt Emma and Uncle Alex McNair in the winter of 1956. His parents had gone to British Columbia to look for work because of a crop failure at home that year. He graduated from high school and then went on to Teachers College for one year in 1961. After receiving his teaching certificate, he taught at a little country school near Vawn, Saskatchewan. From there he returned to Tisdale and taught grade 4 at the Elementary School in 1964. He took correspondence classes during the year and went to summer school. During his time teaching, Earl developed and guided the Student Representative Council, which during his tenure was a democratically elected council. He really guided and helped the students make many important decisions. He and Irene Schaff developed the student work program which gave many kids their first taste of meaningful employment. Many participants in the program later found employment at the same employers they had worked for during the school work program. Several years into his time at the Junior High he was offered and accepted the job of Vice Principal. Earl could fix and build almost anything and had great patience as he worked to figure out whatever problem he was faced with. If he could not figure out whatever he was trying to solve during the day, he would figure it out as he slept and would have a "Eureka Moment" upon awaking the next day. Earl considered each problem a personal challenge and could not give up until he had succeeded. He built picnic benches that are still used at TMSS to this day, and also constructed a winch system that would raise and lower the basketball hoops with ease. He replaced many plug-ins at the junior high, which was not in the usual job description of a grade 7,8, and 9 science teacher. In 1963 he met the love of his life Elfreda and on August 15, 1964 they were married. After a few years of being married he took a whole year off and went to university to finish his education degree. Together they have two children, Debbie and Shayne. They lived in two different homes in Tisdale before purchasing an acreage south of Tisdale. Earl worked with the local air cadets for 10 years. He continued teaching until he had his 30 years in. After his retirement from teaching he started a home-based business of rewinding motors and fixing things for people all over the country. Paul Roy, owner of Northern Steel Industries, asked if he could fix welders. Earl said that he did not know but if Paul would bring him some schematics and manuals, he would study them and see if he could. This was the start of his career at Northern Steel beginning in 1996 where he stayed for roughly 10 years. After his second retirement, this time from Northern Steel he would work for Kelly Slade driving a combine during harvest. After Northern Steel became Westeel Earl was again called back this time for a year and a half. After that tenure Earl worked there off and on, sometimes just going in for a day to help fix something. This fall he again helped Kelly for a few days and then Westeel asked him to come in and help fix a chain hoist. Sadly on October 5, 2020 Earl passed away accidentally on his first day back. He was predeceased by his parents Duncan and Millie McNair. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 56 years, Elfreda, daughter Debbie (Jim) Armstrong of Abbotsford, BC and son Shayne of Tisdale; two granddaughters, Courtney and Natalie, and 6 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Frances (Mel) Shaw and Carol (Dennis) Koch and brother Bert (Fran); as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Donations may be made to the Brighter Horizons Ministries Box 181 Rose Valley, Saskatchewan S0E 1M0 as a token of remembrance