Earl William McKenzie

On behalf of Earl’s family, I want to thank you for being here today to honour, and to pay tribute to Earl.

Earl was born in 1969 – it was the year that Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, televised and watched by millions of people throughout the world, it was the year of the first artificial heart transplant, the year that the Internet was created, and the year that the Montreal Canadians won the Stanley Cup. It was the dawn of an exciting new era, and in this era – Earl was born.

Earl was the youngest, and the only boy in our family. Earl is survived by his 3 sisters, his daughter Tiffany, his nephew Terry, and his niece Ashley – all of whom he loved. Growing up being the youngest sibling and the only boy is never easy, even in the best of families.

Earl did not have an easy life - from his birth through to his passing. He experienced things in his childhood, that no child should ever have to endure. The man he grew into was amazing, considering all the challenges he faced.

Earl was a quiet man, with an inner fortitude and strength that defied his past experiences. Earl once said – “when life gives you a hundred reasons to break down and cry, show life that you have a million reasons to smile and laugh “.

Throughout his childhood and to the very end, Earl demonstrated total selflessness, patience, loyalty, and a quiet strength – all of which are the qualities of Earl’s Spirit Animal – the Wolf. He always put his needs last, he never complained, and he loved his family unconditionally.

Earl cared about his community and the people in it. Earl served as a fire-fighter, fighting forest fires at one stage in his life – this takes great courage and inner strength, as you can never “un-see” the damage that a forest fire can cause.

In the past, Earl also dedicated his time to collecting donations for charity – with the view to improving life for others.

Despite all the challenges life threw at him – Earl approached life with hope for the future, love, forgiveness, and compassion. Earl embraced his native heritage, and he became closer to nature and the eternal beauty it provides, and he was in touch with his inner spirit.

Earl’s spirit animal is the Wolf. The wolf is a powerful symbol of instinct, freedom, loyalty, and intelligence. In almost every tribe, the Wolf is a prominent figure. Wolf stories tie native communities to hunting, protection, loyalty, strength, and success. In all aspects and actions of Earl’s life – he lived in accordance with the Wolf spirit of trusting his instinct, serving the community, protection of his loved ones, inner strength, loyalty, and fortitude.

One of Earl’s final prayers that he posted, was –

“Lord, please strengthen what is weak in me,
Mend what is broken in me,
Heal what is sick in me.
This is my prayer for me and all who are dear to me”.

Earl thought of his loved ones right up to the end.

As we say goodbye to Earl today, let us remember the love, laughter, and precious moments you shared together. Let the examples of his strength, inner-fortitude, kind spirit, and love - be the legacy that carries us forward and guides us. May Earl’s memory live on in our hearts forever, and may we find solace in knowing that Earl is now at peace.

Earl’s spirit, his devotion, and his love – shone brightly in his eyes, and in his smile. This is how I will remember him.

Rest in peace, my little brother. May you run wild with the wolf and experience everlasting peace and divine beauty, beyond what this world could provide.