A funeral service was held in Olds this past Saturday for Keith Arthur Morley, 52, who was killed in Calgary when his vehicle was hit by a stolen truck driving the wrong way.
The funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Olds, with pastor Brent Reilly officiating. Earlier that day, interment took place in the Olds cemetery, where Morley's mother was buried in 1999. Reilly officiated at that service as well.
Morley was born and raised in Calgary and lived there most of his life before moving to Turner Valley in 2004.
The accident occurred Feb. 18.
In an obituary read during Saturday's service, the family said when he was killed, Morley was driving to work his first day after having been certified as a Red Seal carpenter, a goal he had worked very hard to achieve. A tool belt was depicted on the inside of the funeral card.
Tributes were given by friends Scott MacDougall, Jeff Calberry and “Twitch.”
All said he was a very kind, loyal and giving man who became a devout Christian.
“He was a great man; he was honest to a fault,” MacDougall said. “He was basically a father figure to anyone lucky enough to be inside the Morley circle of trust.”
Twitch said Morley gave love “unconditionally.”
“He knew just about everything about me and loved me anyway, and trust me, it's not all good,” she said.
Like many, Twitch said Morley loved everyone, but kids especially. She said he was there for just about every kid's birthday party.
“Life will never be the same without him, but we have to live on through our love, our laughter and our tears,” she said.
Calberry said Morley was always the first person to offer his help when it was needed.
“Keith never gave up – on himself or others,” he said.
Pastor Reilly offered these words of comfort and understanding:
“We're gathered here this afternoon in confidence that Keith, at this moment, is safe in the hands of God,” he said.
“The same cannot be said for us. We're here, and we're still waiting. We're waiting for the day when we will stand before God.
“Keith is before his God because Keith believed in Jesus Christ. So my hope this afternoon is that every one of us, one day, will be safe in the arms of our God through faith in Jesus Christ.”
He led a prayer to God.
“Father, you are the father of all compassion and comfort and we come to you today full of questions and full of sorrow and full of confusion and yes, even full of anger too,” Reilly said.
“When it comes to things like this and situations like this, at best, we're looking through a dark mirror. We know only too well the limits of our own power and our own wisdom and understanding.
“But we are here, looking to you for comfort and peace and for a beginning point to make sense of confusion or a place to stand when the foundations of our lives have been shaken.
“Begin to work for healing in our lives. We ask (that) in Jesus' name, amen,” he added.
Hymns including Amazing Grace and Jesus Loves Me were sung. Reilly read aloud another hymn called It Is Well With My Soul.
A framed picture of Morley stood on a table in front of the altar, accompanied by a bouquet of flowers and a small, lit candle. Another bouquet stood on a pedestal nearby.
"He was a great man; he was honest to a fault. He was basically a father figure to anyone lucky enough to be inside the Morley circle of trust."SCOTT MACDOUGALL FAMILY FRIEND
