Gordon Manery, beloved husband of the late Kathleen (Kay) Manery died on May 31, 2012 at St. Therese Villa in Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 92. Gordon was predeceased by his wife Kay in 1997 and his sisters Jean, Marge and Helen and brother Ron. He is survived by his sister Kathleen Cook (Milton) of Kelowna; sons Bill (Donna) of Vancouver, Jay (Sue) of Lethbridge and Don (Terry) of Calgary and six grandchildren; Rob (Tam), Suzi, Anne, Adam, Sean and Curtis and two great grandchildren Nathan and Dylan. He will also be remembered by his special friend and caregiver Ruth Liska. Born on April 19, 1920 in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Gordon was raised on the family fruit farm near Keremeos. At the age of 20, he left the farm for Southern Alberta in search of work and experience. After some time Gordon chose to further his education, and while a student at Oregon State college was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He returned to Canada where he recuperated for almost two years. When fully recovered, he returned to Lethbridge where he was employed at Broder's Canning Co. In the fall of 1945 Gordon met Kathleen Turner, and after a seven week courtship they were married. Bill, their first of three sons was born in 1947, followed by Jay in 1950 and Donald in 1956. By 1948, Gordon had been employed in various facets of the vegetable growing and canning business in the irrigated areas of Southern Alberta. Identifying the need for a more efficient method of irrigation, he sensed a business opportunity. A meeting was arranged in Penticton, with Charles Oliver, who had since 1921 operated a chemical and agricultural business supplying the fruit industry. In 1949 Mr. Oliver began manufacturing his first aluminum couplings for sprinkler irrigation pipe. Gordon spent that year laying the groundwork for a distribution type operation in Lethbridge. By 1950 ""Oliver Irrigation"" was born, becoming one of the first to introduce mechanized irrigation to Southern Alberta. The business was successful, and in 1955 Gordon acquired Mr. Olivers interests. The business continued to grow, becoming Oliver Chemical Co. and finally Oliver Industrial Supply Ltd. with branches elsewhere in Alberta, and in Saskatchewan. Gordon sold the business in 1975 and after a very short retirement joined forces with Ludvik Pahulje and Paul Madge in the development of the West Village Mall. He remained involved with the daily operations of the mall until 2001. Gordon was a long time member of the Lethbridge Country Club, Lethbridge Curling Club, YMCA, Rotary Club and the Flying Farmers. He was an accomplished pilot who owned and flew numerous airplanes until his late 80`s. A celebration of Gordons life will be held on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Coast Hotel in Lethbridge. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 317 10th Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 9Z9 in Gordons memory. Send condolences to sjmanery@hotmail.com