Louis William Barrett

Louis William Barrett passed away March 10, 2022, at Sunny Side Manor in Birtle, Manitoba, at the age of 94 years. Louis was born Oct 18, 1927, to Francis Barrett of Romford Essex, England and Vera Barrett (Mont) of Nova Scotia. He was born on the family farm west of Binscarth, in the Baldwin district. Attending school there with his siblings. He later moved with his family south of Chillon elevator and farmed with his father till his dad’s passing and continued farming till retiring to Binscarth in 1998. Louis married Lauretta McNary (nee Scott) on Oct 18, 1983.

Louis was very involved in his community and volunteered on many committees being a founding member of Binscarth Park & Pool, member of Binscarth Legion, Binscarth Community Hall, Drop-in Center, Red Cross, canvasser for 50 plus years. Louis loved to dance and rarely missed a social event, also participating in round and square dancing. After retiring from farming, he took on a job at Binscarth & Foxwarren landfill, retrieving anything that was fixable or usable, and spent hours repairing items. He recycled tools, lawn mowers, Christmas lights, strands by the hundreds, and numerous electric cords that just needed a new end. It was the only landfill site decorated with Christmas lights. If you needed anything, Uncle Louis probably had one. He carried a little black book in his shirt pocket to refer dates, floods, storms, and items someone needed. He rarely used it as he had a phenomenal memory.

                I, his niece, Donna, asked him if a bird cage ever came to the dumps and could he save it for me. He took out that little black book and said I was second on his list for a bird cage. So, he would put my name down.

                Louis was an avid reader, historian, horse lover & trainer, naturalist, a bird watcher. He had such a matter-of-fact way with animals. “That’s just the way it is.” He loved to visit, tell stories of the old days and his farming days, and always had time for a cup of coffee – just one – with lots of sugar. You could set your time to his coffee routine at the café and every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at Donna’s.

                Louis was predeceased by his parents, wife Lauretta in 2017 of 34 years of marriage, Brothers-in-law Bill Farquhar of Birtle (1972), Harry Miller of Wawa, Ontario (2018); Sister Marg Farquhar – Birtle (2018), Brothers Robert (2014), Freeman (2022); Niece Anna Howard (Farquhar) (2019).

Surviving him are his sisters Ruth Miller of Wawa, now Harrow, Ontario; Sisters-in-law Doris Barrett of Binscarth; Millie Barrett of Russell; Stepchildren Barb Varey, Pamela Johnston of Swan River, Manitoba, and their families; Robert McNarry of B.C.

                Louis was uncle to 14 family nieces and nephews, and many many more extended family.

                Donation in memory of Louis may be made to Birtle Health Centre or Sunnyside Manor PCH, Birtle. Braendle-Bruce Funeral Service, Russell, Manitoba (204) 773-2747 www.braendlebrucefs.ca