"Merv" Charles Mervin Drayson

Charles "Mervin" Drayson passed away peacefully on August 19, 2019, at Country Meadows Care Home at the age of 95. Merv was born Feb2, 1924. He attended school in Gordon and Brookdale, then worked on the family farm until 1943 when he signed up for the Royal Canadian Air Force. After training in Brandon, Yorkton, Calgary, Edmonton and Abbotsford he graduated and received his wings in Vulcan, Alberta. After graduating, the atomic bomb was dropped and the war was over. On June 25, 1949, Merv married Marj Nelson. They settled on a farm in the Mentmore district where they raised their family of five children. Merv was very involved in community leadership including the Gordon church, the Gordon school board, Mentmore Pool Elevator, Mentmore Curling and Skating rink, Air Cadets, local and regional Library boards, Beautiful Plains Credit Union, Neepawa Legion, Neepawa and Manitoba Elks, and the municipality of Langford. Merv was recognized as being a Legion member for over 70 years. He was President of the Manitoba Elks association of which he was a member for 64 years. He served for 10 years as the Reeve of the Langford Municipality and was honored by receiving an honorary life membership in the UMM.

In 1984 Merv and Marj left the farm and moved to Neepawa and in 1993 they became one of the first residents of Elks Manor when it opened. Marj passed away in 2010 and Merv continued to live at Elks Manor until February 2018 when he moved to Country Meadows. While living at Elks Manor, Merv served as a representative and then as chairman of the board as well as the tenants’ representative on the board of directors. At Country Meadows he served as the residents’ representative of the Residents’ Family Council.

Merv is survived by:

Children: daughter Ellen (Vince Walker), son Ray ( Kelly), son Terry (Cheryl), daughter Karen (Calvin Richardson), and daughter Rhonda (Darren Stanski).

Grandchildren: Scott (Michele), Paula (Ed), Theresa (Jason), Adam, Derek, Karla, Jason (Laurie), Chad (Daria), Meagan (Jared), Tricia, and Tysne.

Great grandchildren: Jackie, Ashley, Tyler, Olivia, Emily, Claire, Cassie, Wyatt, Camryn, Logan, Liam, Ethan, Lincoln, Madeline, Chesney, Brinley, Teegan, Cheyanne , and Sophia.

He is also survived by his sister Jean Ernest and sisters in law Susan Drayson and Bernice Nelson, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Merv was predeceased by his wife Marj, his dad Charles, his mom Gladys, his granddaughter Erin Lynn, his brothers Jerry and Elgin, his brothers in law Arnold Ernest, Robert McKee, Harold and Harvey Nelson , his sisters in law Helen Drayson, Jean Nelson, and Margaret McKee, his nephews Ken, Philip, and Marty Drayson and Randy and Jack Nelson and by his niece Donna Drayson.

A celebration of Merv’s life was held on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at the Neepawa United Church, with interment at the Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa. Donations in Merv’s memory may be made to: Country Meadows Personal Care Home (Activities), Elks Purple Cross Fund or a charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of "Merv" Charles Mervin Drayson, please visit our floral store.