January 10, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Fred Creighton.

Fred Creighton died just before Christmas, another link lost with the Buckley family.   His funeral was held immediately after he died, but the family wisely waiting until Jan 8th for a public memorial service.  My sister reported to me that the momorial service was a fitting tribute for this wise and kindly man.   I spoke about him just last Spring after meeting him again after many years.  After his retirement from IBM, he was spending all his time and intellect and efforts at the Salvation Army Heritage Center.   He was vigorous and energetic in the Spring.  Now he is gone.

The Creighton and Buckley families go back to the days in Calgary, in the early years of the twentieth century.  Fred's parents, Doris and Will were married there and my father and siblings lived there.  Doris and Will were lifelong friends of my parents.  Will and Doris along with my aunt Lillian moved to California, probably for economic reasons but Will and Doris moved back to Canada and settled in Toronto.  Two sons, David and Fred  (actually Cyrus Wifred) were born when the parents lived in the US. My aunt Lill married and lived in Oakland the rest of her life.  I am sure none of her four great-grand children know anything about the Creighton family.

David Creighton, Fred's brother,  wrote an account of the tragedy of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, where most of the officer rank on the Canadian Salvation Army along with the whole Staff Band perished. The parents were both on the ship when it went down.  Now I must get the book.

Carol reports that Fred, before he died,  outlined the service, which in Salvation Army parlance is termed "Promoted  To Glory".  Fred was very active in banding and had asked that the band for his service be comprised of peole who had served under Fred as a Bandmaster, either as a Senior or Junior Bandmaster.  There were well over one hundred on the platform in the band playing for the service.   And the songs sung were all lively as were the tributes.  The last piece said it all that needed to be said of Fred "Count your blessings, count them one by one".  He lived it every day but I am missing another  last link with the Buckley family.