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Maurice John Byblow

June 23, 1946 - February 11, 2020

Maurice John Byblow

Maurice Byblow was born to parents Steve and Anne (nee Spelchen) and raised on a farm near Parkerview, Saskatchewan along with his nine brothers and sisters.

His farm upbringing was steeped in rich Ukrainian tradition, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to community sharing and generosity, values that guided his life choices in years to come.

Maurice attended Chiselhurst, a one room country school three miles from the farm for his elementary years, and graduated from Ituna High School in 1964.  He took a year of Teachers’ College, acquired an Interim Teaching Certificate, then taught a Grade Five class in Melville, SK at age 19.

Not quite ready to settle down to a teaching career, Maurice worked various jobs throughout western Canada and the North.  In 1968, he returned to university, married Lin Ash and together they moved to the Yukon. Following a couple years of teaching in Whitehorse, Maurice and his family, now consisting of sons Michael and Bradley, moved in 1971, to the newly established mining town of Faro.

In the years that followed, Maurice not only established himself as a reputable teacher, but as an outspoken community advocate.  In addition to teaching duties, Maurice found time to edit a local newspaper, The Raven, serve on Municipal Council, and head up numerous boards and committees.  He also became the majority owner of the Faro Hotel.

Summers were spent by the family in Saskatchewan, where in 1975, Maurice achieved his Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees.

In 1978, Maurice ran successfully as an Independent for the Territorial Legislative Assembly in the first election along party lines.  He spent seven years in Opposition, representing Faro, and lobbying popular causes. During that time, he established and chaired a Yukon Education Task Force that visited every Yukon community.  The final report paved the way for broad education reforms and a new Education Act in later years.

Following Opposition years and now a single parent, Maurice did not run for office for a term, but served as Executive Assistant to Minister Piers McDonald.  He ran successfully again in 1988 and served as Minister in various portfolios for the Penikett government.  It was also, during this time he met his soulmate Janet.  Maurice and Janet built a life in Whitehorse filled with love, nurturing and caring for each other and for the community.

Leaving politics in 1992, Maurice went onto two more decades of active business life.  He managed a Canadian division of an American oil company, expanding a network of gas stations throughout the Yukon, investing directly in a number of them. One of his significant investments was in the Capital Hotel on Main Street, which he also managed for a decade.

Maurice enjoyed life in the Yukon with friends and family, summers at the family farm in Saskatchewan, and substitute teaching at various schools in Whitehorse.  Diagnosed with cancer in 2013, Maurice continued teaching, travelling, enjoying the company of his four-legged companion Tyrone, and visiting family to the end.

Maurice leaves to mourn his wife, Janet Pauch, his sons Mike (Shannon) and Brad (Jennifer);  brothers Harvey, Stan (Christine), Bob (Joanne), Tom (Florence), Terry (Iris); sisters Hope Sutton, Julie Brooks (Louis Bartley), Betty (Philip Rowat), Sylvia Dymterko, grandchildren Carson, Rowen, Kaia and Phoebe; brother-in-law John Pauch (Rhonda Marshall); ex-wife Linda Pye; and other family members including many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Maurice was grateful for the exceptional care provided by Dr. Sally MacDonald, Dr. Meagan Schenke, and Homecare staff, in particular, Eva.

A service in celebration of Maurice’s life will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

 

Comments (41)
  • 17 February 2020

    My condolences to the family. Maurice was my teacher in Faro for two years great guy. RIP Maurice you will be missed.

  • 17 February 2020

    Our condolences to the family…you will be missed….RIP..

  • 17 February 2020

    Condolences to the families.
    Knew Maurice when I lived in Faro Yt..
    I worked at Dr Bamford’s office as well at Frank Redmond’s store… was Sharon Newhook at the time.

  • 17 February 2020

    Our condolences to friends and family, Maurice was a great guy who did a lot for Faro and the Yukon.

  • 17 February 2020

    Our condolences to family and friends. Dale & Noeline Kerr

  • 17 February 2020

    May he rest in peace. Maurice we are so thankful and grateful for all you gave and shared with us as a teacher, friend, running the newspaper, and so much more..! Sincere condolences and love to his family.

  • 17 February 2020

    Maurice was a very fine person and committed teacher.
    My condolences to all the family.
    (Teacher in Faro I. ‘70’s)

  • 18 February 2020

    We recall Maurice fondly, beginning with moving into the house he vacated in Faro when he left teaching for politics. I worked with Maurice on a number of projects while he was in government and opposition. I last spoke with him about a year ago, picking his memory on a detail from our years in Faro. My regards to the family.

  • 18 February 2020

    Maurice was an awesome man, teacher, editor of newspaper where I volunteered…he was supportive and encouraging and will be dearly missed. My condolences to his family and friends…may you all be at peace!

  • 18 February 2020

    Sending love & prayers to the family, Maurice stayed with us when he did his first teaching in Melville. I have very fond memories of ice cream on Sunday afternoons with him, he was a wonderful “big cousin “ to me., XO

    Lori & Bob Weisgerber

  • 18 February 2020

    very sorry to hear that Maurice has gone. A fine man, generous. A great zest for life. Will be missed.

  • 18 February 2020

    My sincere condolences to Janet and family. Maurice was a kind and caring man and he will be missed.

  • 18 February 2020

    I am so sorry for your loss, Janet.
    I had several dealings with Maurice over the years when he was in politics and later when he owned and managed The Capital.
    He was quite a guy for sure.
    My heart goes out to you.

  • 18 February 2020

    So sorry to hear of Maurice’s passing. We were in the same grade at Ituna High School….country bumpkins! He was a very kind hearted personand a pleasure to be around. He will be an asset in his new home. God bless you and your family.

  • 18 February 2020

    My Condolences to the family of Maurice Byblow .He was a great teacher and fantastic advocate for what he believed in RIP Maurice.

  • 18 February 2020

    Maurice always showed up to work with a smile on his face and laugh in his voice no matter what the work day challenges were to be.

    He was always there to give a person a leg up, and I’ll be forever grateful to him, and blessed that our paths had crossed.

    My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

  • 18 February 2020

    So sorry to hear this sad news. I am thankful to have had Maurice as a teacher while living in Faro. My condolences to his family and friends.

  • 18 February 2020

    May he Rest In Peace. Always had a smile when
    He came to the hotel to bug us or the school to try and teach us all something. He was an upstanding man in our small
    Community in faro. Sending many prayers to all the family
    Members. Hugs to you all.

  • 18 February 2020

    I remember Maurice well as my teacher in Faro @ Del VanGorder. Xo sounds like a life So well lived!

  • 18 February 2020

    I was a pleasure being able to work with Maurice over the last few years. My condolences to his family and friends. A lovely man he was.

  • 18 February 2020

    Dear Janet and family members.
    Our deepest condolences to you as you mourn Maurice’s passing. He was a great man and will be missed.

    Nestor and Irma Byblow

  • 18 February 2020

    I worked for Maurice for a brief time at the hotel. He was a good man and I felt embraced by him and the Byblow family, especially Tom, Bob and Joanne. My thoughts drift north as the family prepares to lay him to rest. RIP Maurice and heartfelt condolences to the whole family.

  • 18 February 2020

    Maurice was a wonderful friend and I loved the days that we would work together at PC. He was always full of advice and wisdom and I could literally tell that man anything! I truly feel blessed that I got to know him. Rest easy Maurice ❤️

  • 18 February 2020

    Condolences to the Byblow family. I knew Maurice and Lin along with Harvey and Bob in the early days in Faro. Thoughtful and always hard working. A life well lived.

  • 18 February 2020

    Janet and family, sending our sympathies from the Roske family (Krista, Jason and Kate).

  • 18 February 2020

    So sorry to hear he was a good man Rest In Peace

  • 18 February 2020

    Condolences to the Byblow family, in the passing of your father, brother, friend. May wonderful memories soothe the soul during your grieving and healing. Destined for a better place, where there is no pain, nor sorrow, until you meet again. Rest in peace.
    Ken and Dianne Hnatiuk

  • 19 February 2020

    Condolences to the families

  • 19 February 2020

    It was always a pleasure to work with Maurice, a true professional in all he did, his smile and the joy he shared will be missed. Condolences to Janet and family.

  • 19 February 2020

    Bert and I are saddened to hear of Maurice’s death. We were good friends over 30 years ago but sadly, lost touch. We remember him fondly for his zest for life, his enquiring mind and his infectious laugh. Condolences to Janet, the Byblow family and in particular to his sons, Michael and Bradley.

  • 20 February 2020

    Condolences and love to family and friends. Maurice was one in a million. Rest In Peace Maurice and thank you. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have known and worked with you.

  • 20 February 2020

    Dear Janet, I am so sorry for your loss. Reading his obituary, I could tell he was a special person and you must have had special years together. Take care and hopefully we will see each other some day. Thinking of you xoxo. Love, your Aunt Marion

  • 21 February 2020

    I was in Mr. Byblow’s first class at Takhini elementary. He gave me the confidence to believe that I could be a teacher one day. I graduated with a Bachelor of Education a few years later.

  • 21 February 2020

    I am so sorry to hear about Maurice passing. I would come up but my wife is in California attending her Uncles funeral at the moment. So I am sorry we can not make it up. I would have come up in heart beat. Again I so sorry and sad. Allan and Patty

  • 23 February 2020

    Dear Janet we are sorry to hear of your loss, sincere condolences to you and Maurices’s family.

  • 24 February 2020

    Dear Janet and family,

    Sharon and I send you our deepest condolences as you say farewell to your beloved Maurice. I was fortunate to have Maurice as a friend and business associate. Maurice was full of heart, compassion and always there to extend a helping hand when needed. Farewell to a wonderful man and a genuine Yukon entrepreneur who impacted so many of us for the better. I will miss you.

  • 24 February 2020

    hiya, maurice, for the almost last time:

    a few stories, since i ain’t coming to your wake: i’ll do my grieving in private, weep for you alone. but maybe someone will read these tales at your official passing.

    in faro, you were my daughter’s grade seven teacher, for which she and i are so grateful. you gave her much.

    you played poker with us 6-8 guys in faro, and we all loved your panache, and your balls. one night i confess i took advantage of you: i was sober, you were not. there were only you and me left in the pot, and i raised you 50 bucks (a lot more in 1973 than it’s worth today). you matched it, but lost to my straight flush. unfortunately, you wrote a cheque for it. when i cashed it at the bank, your wife was the teller, which i didn’t notice soon enough. i bet when she got home, you and i were held in lower esteem!!!

    remember, maurice, how i agreed to manage your campaign to become an independent mla? well, i did, but you promptly went and joined a party. you asshole! i didn’t speak to you for months, but i got over it, and still thought you were a great human, and a great friend.

    remember, maurice, at a large faro dinner party, i bet you $1000 that you couldn’t quit smoking for six months. if you resumed cigarettes, you would pay me only $200. you took the bet. but you fell off the wagon. i took the $200.

    i am sad to hear you are gone, my kind and generous friend.

    you were not perfect, maurice, but by god, you were excellent!

    dick fast

  • 25 February 2020

    So sorry to hear of Maurice’s passing, sincere condolences to the family…Sending love and prayers to all from Paul and Helen’s children…Gloria, Yvonne, Stephen, Carla and families..Hugs!!

  • 28 February 2020

    I thought of you often during the past 45 years, You were a huge inspiration. RIP

  • 29 February 2020

    There hasn’t been a day since his passing that we haven’t spoken of him and the special things that each one of us remembers about him, amazing what memories he left us with. Our hearts are with you all, the loss of a brother lives with you forever, just hope it gets easier as time goes on. He will definitely be missed. Thoughts, prayers and hugs.

  • 7 September 2020

    What to say…you are remembered with fondness as a particular inspiration for me…I attended your high school English classes at Del Van Gorder School in Faro in the ’70’s…a pretty special time…with some very remarkable educators…you were one of the best…thank you. I’ll continue to carry your memory with me on my journeys…

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