Blain "Morley" Henderson

Blain Morley Henderson, born March 7, 1944 in Gladstone, Manitoba to Doris and Les Henderson of Franklin, Manitoba.  He “slipped the surly bonds of earth” on March 9, 2024 surrounded by family.  Known as Morley, and sometimes as Moe, he was raised on the farm outside of Franklin until the age of 18. 

He married Diane Preston of Shoal Lake in 1967 and they had two children, Kathleen and Jeff.  Over the years he and his family lived in Neepawa, Gladstone, McGregor, Brandon, Roblin, The Pas, Boissevain, back to The Pas, Cormorant and then a return to Neepawa. 

Morley was an avid pilot and aviation enthusiast. He received his private pilot’s license in 1961 through the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program and then used his first airplane in Roblin, Manitoba as part of a crop-dusting business.  He was active in Flying Clubs in Roblin, Boissevain and The Pas, and owned a hangar at the Boissevain airstrip, and the Grace Lake aerodrome.  He could always be counted on to provide rides to anyone interested in a sight seeing tour.  He donated hours and hours of his time with the Civil Air Search and Rescue (CASARA) organization, and volunteered as training officer for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in The Pas and Killarney Squadrons. 

Morley enjoyed the outdoors – camping, hunting, boating and fishing.  One of his favourite places was the family cabin at Cormorant, Manitoba that he referred to as BC – Beautiful Cormorant.  He was community minded and donated his time and efforts as a volunteer fire fighter in Roblin, The Pas and Boissevain, his contributions also included his efforts as a training officer.

Following a 30-year career with Manitoba Hydro he retired and started a second career, earning his commercial pilot’s license and instructor’s rating and trained aspiring pilots in The Pas.  When he retired from that career, he went to work with his wife Diane in the H&R Block franchise in The Pas, Flin Flon and Snow Lake. 

A dedicated family man, Morley was a joker, story teller and flirt.   He fought back from a number of personal health setbacks and rarely let physical limitations get in the way of his determination to accomplish anything.  Morley was fiercely protective of his family, particularly his wife Diane who  is left to mourn along with Kathleen & Nichole, Jeffery & Brenda, Joana and Corwin, grandchildren Caitlin, Brin, Kyla, Grace and her partner Pascal, and great grandson River.  Brother Lane and Claire, sister Leigh and Dave, brother-in-law Bill & Donna and sister-in-law Barb along with nieces and nephews.

Please join the family for “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” Celebration of Life March 16, 2024 at 2 pm at the Frankin Community Hall, in Franklin, Manitoba. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Morley’s name to the #9 Neepawa Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron c/o Royal Canadian Legion #23, in person or by mail (Box 936, Neepawa MB, R0H 1H0) to aid in the purchase of a flight simulator for the Neepawa squadron.

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