Obituary of Maxwell Lawrence Blandford

IN MEMORY OF MAXWELL LAWRENCE BLANDFORD

JULY 17, 1935 - JULY 31 2018

It is with great sadness we say goodbye but for those of you who knew Max, know he would say “you must celebrate” the great life he lived and be at peace knowing he’s now catching up with those who preceded him. His mother Alice Ida (Cheeseman) Blandford (1869-1940), father Capt. Maxwell Morrell Blandford (1893-1964), brother Capt. Harvey Reginald Blandford (1924-1991), brother Ralph Austin Blandford (1926-2008), sister Jean Eloise Morrell (Blandford) Smith (1928-2016), grandparents Capt. Archibald Blandford (1856-1926), Sarah Mary (Lockyer) Blandford (1863-1951), Lawrence Cheeseman (1866-1942) and Mary Ann Bennett (1871-1922).

Surviving Max to celebrate his life is his loving wife of 58 years Mary, two sons Maxwell Blandford (Jorge) Ken Blandford (Eileen), daughter Kim Young (Gordon), grandchildren Scott Merchant (Larasia), Hayley Merchant, Sara Schwartz (Jordan), Josh Blandford and Max Blandford, great-grandchildren Easton Merchant and Adaline Merchant, his sister Marjorie Struss and many nieces, nephews and many great friends.

Corporal Max served 10 years (1954-1964) in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Fighter Control Operator. After leaving the Air Force, Max moved his family from Eastern Canada to Saskatchewan where he stayed and raised his family. Attending STI in Moose Jaw and then residing in Saskatoon, Max then spent 25 years with the Granite curling club where he built many great friendships along the way.

Max had a passion for poetry worthy of a Pulitzer and was the world’s greatest master of ceremonies. His other passions were fishing, camping and travelling. Max was an amazing father and a true Canadian believing his kids must see all of Canada and traveled coast to coast in his turquoise camper for summer vacations learning more history than the schools could ever teach. The Trans Canada was hardly as interesting as his off-road mysteries, his spectacular mountain hikes through Banff, Lake Louise and ghost towns not even on the maps. He knew our country like the back of his hand and made sure we did as well. 

Max was a collector of curling pins and framed them all. He used to spend hours out on the family farm collecting arrowheads which he also framed this amazing collection.

Max was also a painter and you will see his paintings displayed on the walls of his family’s homes and in his books. Not only was Max talented in so many areas, he was also known for his big heart. Max touched the hearts of everyone and was always there with a helpful hand, great advice and more stories and experiences then most humans could dream of having.

If so desired, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army.

A Celebration of Max’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 5, 2018 in the chapel of Saskatoon Funeral Home (338 – 4^th Avenue North).