Memorable Manitobans: Henry Gordon Lilley (1886-1985)

Accountant.

Born at Winnipeg on 21 March 1886, son of John Lilley (1849-?) and Annie Bennett (1848-?), he worked at the Manitoba School for the Deaf (MSD) as a Clerk (c1901-?) and Storekeeper (?-1908).

In October 1908, he resigning his position to join the Manitoba Christian Endeavor Union (MCEU), where he served as Field Secretary (1908-1913) and President (1913-1915). In addition to his work with the MCEU, he returned to MSD around November 1909, briefly resuming as Storekeeper (1909) before being promoted to Bursar (1909-1920). He was later the Acting Superintendent (1920-1923) and occasionally filled in as a substitute teacher. He next worked for the Unemployment Insurance Commission until retirement after which he opened his own accountancy firm. He was a charter member of the Deer Lodge United Church and a member of the Young United Church.

On 19 June 1912, he married Lillian Marnie (c1889-1968, daughter of J. A. Marnie of Omaha, Nebraska) at 4840 Dupont Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had two children: Phyllis Louise Lilley (1916-2002, wife of Andrew Malcolm McRae) and James Gordon Lilley (1927-2017). Over the years, the family resided at several locations including Rosetta Court (1912-?), 309 Manderville Street (1916), 929 Warsaw Avenue (1921), and 197 Langside Street (1968).

He died at the Central Park Lodge, 70 Poseidon Bay, in Winnipeg on 3 January 1985 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

1916, 1921, and 1926 Canada censuses, Library and Archives Canada.

“H. Gordon Lilley,” The Silent Echo, 15 October 1908, pages 4-5.

“Canadian C. E.” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 March 1909, page 5.

“J. L. Bond is President,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 February 1910, page 18.

“Manitoba Christian Endeavor news,” Manitoba Free Press, 22 June 1912, Western Section page 4.

“Lilley - Marnie,” Manitoba Free Press, 26 June 1912, page 9.

“Manitoban Christian Endeavor news,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 August 1912, page 42.

“Lilley - Marnie,” The Silent Echo, 1 October 1923, page 4.

“Winnipeg society wins banner,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 February 1913, page 14.

“Winnipeg loses by only two votes,” Manitoba Free Press, 14 July 1913, page 1.

“Elect officers for Manitoba,” Manitoba Free Press, 23 February 1914, page 1.

“Hollies hold tenth annual at Elm Park,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 January 1915, page 25.

“Endeavorers open big convention,” Manitoba Free Press, 13 February 1915, page 15.

“Charleswood,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 September 1922, page 5.

“Children happy in world of vast silence,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 3 March 1923, page 11.

“Mr H. Gordon Lilley resigns,” The Echo, 15 October 1923, page 4.

“3 new labor offices open in Manitoba,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 August 1942, page 15.

“Engagements [Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rasmussen ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 June 1949, page 14.

Obituary [Mrs. Florence Smalley], Winnipeg Tribune, 24 June 1966, page 27.

Obituary [Lillian H. Lilley], Winnipeg Free Press, 24 February 1968, page 28.

Obituary [Andrew Malcolm McRae], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 November 1969, page 36.

“Sawchuk - McRae,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 January 1981, page 37.

Obituary, Winnipeg Tribune, 5 January 1985 page 60.

Obituary [Phyllis Louise McRae], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 October 2002, page 44.

Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery burial transcriptions [Vacaville, California], FindAGrave.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 29 December 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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