Mervyn Phyllis

Mervyn James Phyllis of Sycamore Place, Thunder Bay passed away suddenly December 19, 2017. Merv was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario on August 14, 1935 and grew up in the Kirkland Lake/ New Liskeard area with a passion for hockey.  He played his teenage years with the New Liskeard Lions and Cubs hockey clubs while property of the Boston Bruins of the NHL, but decided to play professional hockey in Scotland for the Paisley Pirates.

While in Scotland Merv met the love of his life and future wife Margaret (Rita).  They were married in Scotland on July 3, 1957 and celebrated their 60th Anniversary this year.  While in Scotland they had their first son Victor.   Merv and Rita moved back to Canada, moving to Ontario with Merv’s jobs at Northern Tel and Bell Canada.  Their middle child John was born in Kenora and their youngest son Alan was born in Dryden.  In 1973 Merv and Rita moved to Thunder Bay where they have lived for the past 44 years.

Merv was a district manager at Bell Canada and retired in 1993 at the age of 58.  Merv took over John’s first promotional business; PJS Marketing, and continued to work for several years as he loved working with people and keeping busy.  Merv was very involved in the community and volunteered with many organizations.  He loved hockey and was a member of the Elks Athletic Association for 49 years.  During this time Merv held positions as the Chairman of the Tom Thumb Atom Tournament, Referee in Chief, hockey coach and Treasurer.  Merv was a member of the Kinsmen Club of Fort William for many years and was the Chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Telethon.  Merv was a member of the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition and served on the Board of Directors. He also volunteered with the Bell Pensioners. Merv loved his daily socializing with his Elks family at Lodge 82 of Thunder Bay.

Merv’s family would like to thank the nurses and doctors that cared for him at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital for his brief time there. Merv will be sadly missed by his wife of 60 years Rita, his son Victor (wife Lisa), son John (wife Sylvia), son Alan (wife Lindsay) and Grandchildren Brendan, Nicholas, Wil and Chloe. At the request of Mervyn Phyllis there will be no funeral services. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Elks Athletic Association in memory of Merv Phyllis.