Colleagues, Dr. Earl Leslie Covert passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the age of 86 years. His family, while spread across Canada, has grown to include 13 great-grandchildren who are all under the age of nine years old. While these are the blood relations he left behind, there are dozens of people and families who called him a father, a grandfather, and a friend. He was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey, in 2016.
Doctor Covert was born on June 21st, 1938, in Ottawa, graduating Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and moved immediately to the Northwest Territories, where he began serving the Lord as a doctor and leader in his church community. The legacy he leaves behind includes bringing hundreds of babies into the world, flying into remote communities to serve both the Lord and the medical field in any capacity he was able. He raised a large family and left behind a church family at Parallel Lethbridge, while not blood, are true family as any man could ask for.
Colleagues, Dr. Covert was a man who touched the lives of many people. He served his communities of Hay River, Coaldale and the Lethbridge area as a doctor for over 50 years. In the many years he served his community, he donated his time, his energy, and his love to anyone he met, serving in the Streets Alive with Foot Friday, the Gideons, and Parallel Lethbridge. He was lovingly known in Parallel as "the doc" where he served for many years as a door greeter and voice of wisdom.
Colleagues, I was fortunate to have him as a family doctor growing up in Hay River. It is not often when you have a doctor who brings you into the world and then has the opportunity to bring your children into this world. This happened with me and my younger sister.
I remember the last time we had a conversation about a potential operation. As we were chatting about various options, I asked him how long he knew me, and he said all your life young man. Then he thought about the question further and said we'll come up with a different plan.
When you look at Dr. Covert's life, there are countless layers of people he has affected on the people which some we still don't fully known, yet what is known is that he has touched so many lives in such a positive way that his passing has left a hole in the hearts of many. His last wish, his final goal, was to see the Lord Jesus Christ praised and the gospel spread to anyone with ears to hear.
I would like to thank his grandson Dallas Covert to help with this part of the Celebration of Life; however, being reflective of the time I would like the rest of this statement be deemed as read and printed in the Hansard. This includes other parts of the obituary written by his grandson, written by his daughter and son-in-law. He will be sadly missed.
Dallas Covert
I call tell you his hobbies included genealogy research, bird watching, and stamp collecting, where he served in BNAPS from 1972 in various capacities as Secretary of the Society, and Member of the board of governors. He eventually served as Chairman, and President of the organization. He is known internationally for publishing and editing various catalogs and collectors' documents relating back to his joy of stamp collecting.
Doctor Covert is survived by his second wife Jean and her daughter Barbara, his son Lawrence (Monique) and his daughter Cindy (Robin); seven grandchildren: Orrin (Kaio), Dallas (Andrea), Tyrell (Ceara), Nakyta (James), Natasha, Makayla (Spencer), and Porscha (Mike).
A Celebration of Life was held at Parallel Church, 1 mile east of Lethbridge on Hwy 3, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Kelly Stickel and Pastor Ralph Molyneux officiating. The service was made available by Cornerstone Funeral Home webpage.
Cindy Esau (daughter): Earle Covert, the Collector
To quote the late Philip "Phil Ately", I have never witnessed a person who is more dedicated to acquiring, these funny little scraps of paper, that we call stamps, than my friend "Doc Covert."
Indeed, Doctor "Doc" Earle L. Covert was a true legend in his time. His Zeal for acquiring all things related to the Postal System, no matter how tenuous the connection, was remarkable. Besides the common postage stamps and stationery that you are familiar with, Doc was seeking out post cards, first day covers, illustrated permits, tobacco revenue stamps, post office advertising posters, mailboxes, etc. Nothing seemed to be off limits. He once even considered moving his family into a decommissioned post office.
Robin Esau (son-in-law)
Doc was very instrumental in popularizing this obscure endeavour. The younger generations seemed to take a keen interest. Clutching their first stamp albums, they would watch Doc striding through the gilded halls of BNAPS or ORAPEX in his quest for an elusive Mark Harmon post card or an inverted error St. Lawrence Seaway 5 cent 1958 stamp. Legions, well maybe not legions but probably quite a few, children got their life journey started this way. He will be missed. How are the dealers going to Survive now?
Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.