Graham Beeby

July  15th, 1937 October  30th, 2024
Stratford, Ontario
Graham Beeby

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the extraordinary life of Graham Beeby. Please take a moment to share memories of Graham and join us for a celebration of life. Always remember LYB (Love you Big) and KYPU!

Obituary

Graham's obituary can be found here: https://www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Graham-Beeby?obId=33610392

We invite you to share your stories, photos, and memories of Graham on the memory wall below.

Timeline

1937
July 15th
Born
Graham was born in Queen Mary Hospital on the north side of Mount Royal. His mother said it was raining so hard that he was wet for 4 years after.
Montreal, Quebec
1947
Moved to Belleville, Ontario
When Graham was 10, his father was hired to help run a new Northern Electric Plant in Belleville. After moving, Graham got involved in his new community by starting his lifelong love of playing football, participating in track and field events, singing in the church choir, playing trombone in the school band, and working on a farm close to his home. He worked several part time jobs looking after delivery horses at a local baker, delivering Globe and Mail newspapers, and working at butcher shop.
Belleville, Ontario
1960
Married Evelyn Beeby
After a first date at the Port of Montreal followed by an ice cream cone dipped in chocolate at Dairy Queen, Graham and Evelyn began a three year courtship. It started a 64 year partnership that would bring them love, family, and so many adventures. They became engaged on Evelyn’s 18th birthday, when Graham was just 20. They were so young, but so sure and were married at Christ Church in Belleville.
Belleville, Ontario
1962
Birth of Andrea
Belleville, Ontario
1965
Birth of Karen
Belleville, Ontario
1969
November
Moved to St. Albert
After 10 years at Bell Telephone, Graham's love of communications led him to start a career opportunity at Motorola Inc. in St. Albert, Alberta. He and Evelyn welcomed the birth of their 3rd daughter, Janet, just 6 weeks after they moved. Graham's family loved participating in skating events, skiing in the Rockies, and traveling to National Parks in their VW camper van.
St. Albert, Alberta
1969
December
Birth of Janet
St. Albert, Alberta
1975
Moved to England
Graham joined the International Division of Motorola and moved, along with his family, to England, where he established an office and carried out his primary responsibility for communication system development in Iran, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His work over the years would take him to over 100 countries.
Woodley, England
1976
Birth of Derek
Derek was a happy addition to our family; Graham proudly stopped by local pub to show him off to friends and coworkers before he and Evelyn even made it home from the hospital.
Ascot, England
1986
Moved to Korea
After moving back to Toronto in 1979, Graham again joined Motorola's international division directing the company's operation in Korea. He loved learning about new food, culture, and people as well as traveling throughout the region. 
Seoul, Korea
1996
Retirement
He rejoined the Toronto team in 1988, Graham where he retired in 1996. In 1999, he and Evelyn moved to Haliburton, Ontario where they renovated their cottage into a year round home. Graham and his family loved spending time outdoors, whether in winter or summer. He bought an 18’ boat which Derek christened “Beyond Rad”. From tubing and canoeing in the summer to ATV’ing and snowmobiling in the winter, we had many great adventures together. Big family meals and games of rummoli bookended every day.  
Haliburton, Ontario
2010
Moved to Tilsonburg
Graham and Evelyn moved to Tillsonburg in 2010. For over a decade, they hosted many holiday gatherings with family as they watched their children and grandchildren grow.
Tillsonburg, Ontario
2024
October 30th
Death
After moving to Stratford the previous year, Graham passed away at age 87 with family at his side in the kind and loving hands of Sakura House Hospice caregivers, at Woodstock, Ontario on October 30th, 2024.

In a book of stories about his life, Graham shared that he was thrilled to have been "married to Evelyn for 64 years, with an enjoyable career behind me, a bright, capable, loving family and so many happy memories. I am indeed a lucky man."
Stratford, Ontario

Gallery


Memory wall

Please share your memories and photos of Graham here. Thanks for helping celebrate his extraordinary life - LYB!


February 10, 2025
My family has lost its most iconic member.
If you’d ever met my Dad - you’d remember him ❤️
Graham Leslie Beeby was kind. He was positively vibrating with mischief, a prodigious storyteller and a genuinely good guy.
He was a salesman to his core and there was advice on just about anything and everything he would readily give at a moments notice…”I’ll tell you what you want to do….”
He was one of football’s biggest fans (Montreal Alouettes, Forever ⚜️🏈)
He was curious and loved many, many things including, but not limited to: football (needed to be mentioned twice) his family, animals (dogs, especially), trains, cars (well, most vehicles, actually), delicious food, Ruby Port, PowerPoint presentations, world travel, holiday decorations and Christmas carols. He was a lifelong Liberal Democrat. And though I will never understand it, he also loved Consumer Reports Magazine….
He was a wonderful artist. Loved tools and building things. He would frequently injure himself when using tools and building things.
He told very inappropriate, bawdy jokes (we always shook our heads and laughed 😳)
He was the king of acronyms. KYPU and LYB for those of you in the know ❤️
I know my Dad isn’t here anymore, but I’d like to think that he’s not really gone - more that he’s just somewhere else.
I’d like to think that he’s sitting at a restaurant somewhere in Italy with a red napkin shoved into the collar of his crewneck T-shirt. There’s a scruffy little dog begging at his feet (and getting her fair share).
I’d like to think he’s making friends with the people sitting at the next table. He’s helping them to decide what to order.
There’s a big bowl of steaming Cioppino or Brodetto in front of him and he’s holding a huge shrimp head in one hand. The rich, garlicky tomato juice is running down his fingers - which he gives a little lick.
He closes his eyes and savors the flavor and the moment and says to no one in particular, but addressing his shrimp, “You know what that is don’t you? That there, is sex on a stick”!
I will miss your antics and your big, big heart.
I Love you, Dad ❤️
Wherever you are, I hope there are butter tarts with raisins and humbug candies.
I know you would tell me I’m going overboard …
but I will forever, love you big
❤️🐑🐳🐳🐳
Janet Beeby
February 10, 2025
I lost my Dad. 😢
I've been thinking of the many ways I could honour him...
I could talk about what an amazing businessman he was...And he was!
I could describe how much he accomplished during his 87 years...he was talented, hardworking, and so very creative.
I could say how loved and admired he was... and that alone could fill volumes.
But I've decided that I will honour him best by simply saying what he meant to me and my life.
My Dad, Graham Beeby, meant the world to me. He carried me on his shoulders and taught me how to fish and how to shift the gears in the car while he would clutch.
He passed along his love of dogs, food, and classical music.
He taught me to love Christmas - he was Santa Claus, the Little Drummer Boy, and Tiny Tim all rolled into one.
He taught me how to wire almost anything electrical, check the oil in my car, and light a campfire.
He shared his love of singing and taught me how to whistle.
When I was a child, he built the best snow forts, snow tunnels under the back yard and skating rinks anywhere in town. He played with us, made us laugh, and took us on so many adventures.
He was the kind of dad every kid wishes they had, and my siblings and I hit the jackpot.
He always said, 'Love Ya Big'! And he did. He loved me, his family and life in general.
I'm so proud to be his daughter and so blessed to have lived in his wonderful, crazy orbit.
I love ya BIG, Dad. Sleep peacefully. 💜💕🥰
Karen Beeby

Favorites


What was Graham's favorite Travel destination?
England
What was Graham's favorite TV show?
Vera
What was Graham's favorite Sports Team?
Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Alouettes
What was Graham's favorite Movie?
Anything on the W Channel or History Channel
What was Graham's favorite Music / Song?
Classical music especially Beethoven
What was Graham's favorite Food or Dish?
Scallops, oysters, kimchi, hot and sour soup, chicken wings
What was Graham's favorite Book?
Consumer Reports and the Bathroom Reader
What was Graham's favorite Sport?
Football
What was Graham's favorite Quote or Saying?
-Turn at the clover leaf
-If you see something you have not seen before grab it and run!
-You cannot make chicken salad out of chicken shit
-Love ya Big
-Don't let the turkeys get you down
-Aww, I stepped on my dick
-Useless as a screen door on a submarine
-It’s as cold as Hell
-Keep a cool tool jewel
-Keep your pecker up

Service


Please join us for a celebration of Graham's life. The service will be held in Stratford, Ontario as well as live streamed for those who are not able to join in person. 
Location
St. James Anglican Church
41 Mornington St, Stratford, ON N5A 5E7
Date/time
May 3rd, 2025
10:00am - Visitation to share memories of Graham
11:00am - Celebration of Life Service
12:00pm - Luncheon

All times Eastern Standard Time
Virtual event
Please RSVP for a livestream link
RSVP

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In keeping with Graham’s generosity and sense of adventure, he was pleased to have participated over time, in a comprehensive dementia study and on his death to donate his brain to a Canadian University, in this case The University of Western Ontario. Oh, the stories that brain could tell!

In honor of our beloved Graham, we invite you to contribute to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or World Vision Canada, causes that were near and dear to his heart.

Your generous donation will serve as a meaningful tribute, perpetuating the spirit of Graham supporting a meaningful cause.

Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Graham embodied throughout his life.

You can contribute here and a contribution will be made in honor of Graham or visit:
The Alzheimer Society of Canada: https://alzheimer.ca/
World Vision Canada: https://www.worldvision.ca/
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