Obituaries

August 12, 1936 - May 4, 2023

On May 4, 2023, at Kelowna General Hospital, Reverend Lloyd Nelson Abrey at the age of 86 years, was peacefully promoted into his heavenly home with the Lord.

He is predeceased by: parents Harold, Isabelle, Stepmother Mildred; siblings Alfred Abrey, Ruth Stoez, Ida Wreggit, Jerry Abrey.

He is survived by his loving wife Eileen, sister Maurene Harris, sons Owen (Nadine), Brian (Zofia), Robin (Wendy), Kevin (Jodi), and Darren (Beckie); grandchildren: Owen Junior, Amanda, Joshua, Jordan, Rachel, Hayley, Matthew, Claire, Madeline, Benjamin, and Callum; and great-granddaughter, Colbie.

Lloyd was born to Harold and Isabelle Abrey on August 12, 1936, in Grandview, Manitoba. Shortly thereafter that summer, as an infant, a storm passed over their home, lightning struck the chimney of the pot belly stove and went through the baby carriage. Lloyd miraculously hung onto life as his parents held his limp body.

At the age of five, his mother had a deathbed vision of heaven and passed away from an illness. Her final words were that “Heaven was a beautiful place and whatever you do, take time to be holy”. With no one else at home to look after them, Lloyd and his younger brother Jerry went to the fields to farm with their dad. A few years later his dad remarried and their new mother took very good care of them. He even got a new sister, Maurene.

For grades 11 and 12 in the early 1950s, Lloyd attended a Christian High School in Nipawin.

After high school, Lloyd attended teacher’s training in Winnipeg. He accepted a teaching position in Hilbre, Manitoba, and rode his black horse to school every day.

Lloyd later moved to Saskatoon to attend Bethel Bible Institute. He attended Elim Pentecostal Tabernacle and met his wife, Eileen. They were married on August 22, 1959. He continued his studies in accounting and worked for Federated Co-Op. He worked short stints at Green Lake Municipality, the Provincial Tax Auditor, and Metropolitan Life. In late 1964, Lloyd purchased a new blue Plymouth and moved his growing family to Thompson, Manitoba in the cold January of 1965. He worked for Inco in their Accounting and Engineering departments. He was very involved in his church, as well as the local school board and provincial politics. Leisure time was spent raising his five boys, at the hockey rink, fishing, and camping.

After thirteen years in Thompson, Lloyd and Eileen purchased a grocery store in the town of Glenboro, in southwestern Manitoba. Six of the family moved in 1978 and built a thriving business. It was very much a family affair as Lloyd, Eileen, and the boys would work at stocking shelves and running the cash register. Lloyd and Eileen instilled a strong trait of always delivering excellent customer service into their boys, long before it became a business buzzword.

For some time, Lloyd had felt the call of God on his heart for pastoral ministry. In 1981, the grocery store was sold and Lloyd, Eileen, and their three youngest sons moved to Abbotsford, BC, where Lloyd continued his theological education at WPBC and joined his son Owen, graduating Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Ministry in Theology in the Spring of 1983. Lloyd never thought he would be going to the north again, but he felt the call of God to go to Fort Nelson, BC - mile 300 on the Alaska Highway. As a pastor there, he was a private school principal for 45 kids by weekdays, Bible study leader on Wednesday nights, and preacher on Sunday mornings and nights. He preached in a loving, practical style, and the church grew to over 100 people each Sunday. In 1986-1988, they took a pastorate in Invermere BC.

In 1988, Lloyd was offered the position of Administrator at Elim Lodge for senior’s housing, back in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He managed the day-to-day operations of the facility, the sale of units in a new wing, and managed the construction of a large new addition to the facility. Lloyd held many roles at the facility and the residents appreciated that he was always so caring and available.

Lloyd and Eileen retired to Kelowna in 1995. Occasionally, he would itinerate as a fill-in preacher at churches in the Okanagan, seniors care homes, and the hospital. He also served as the Treasurer for the local Habitat for Humanity society and would prepare income tax returns for a variety of friends and family.

Lloyd loved his family and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchild. He enjoyed spending time with them whenever he could.

Lloyd will always be remembered for his positive attitude, huge smile, generous heart, and his love of God. Lloyd is free now from his earthly pain and suffering and in The Loving Arms of Jesus.

A Celebration of Life will be officiated by Pastor Eldon Schultz, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 2:00 pm, at Evangel Church, 3261 Gordon Drive, Kelowna, BC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Evangel Missions, evangelkelowna.com, or to the Parkinson Society of BC, www.parkinson.bc.ca.

Condolences, photos, or memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com.

• May 26, 2023
  Such a beautiful tribute. Lloyd was such a kind member of our church for many years. He and Eileen have been a blessing to many of us. He will be missed. - Will Sohnchen
• May 23, 2023
  So very sad for Eileen and family. Lloyd was a good person and a great neighbour at the Fountains. Chris Bischoff - Christine Bischoff

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