February 24, 2021
1927-2021 ~ Stan, our dad, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 24, 2021. Born in 1927, he was a resident of Courtenay for his entire life growing up in the family home on Cliffe Ave. As a young boy, Dad was well known for riding his bike with the wide handlebars everywhere.
As a young man, he was involved in gymnastics and baseball with the Courtenay Recreation Association and was a member of the Air Cadets where he obtained his private pilot's licence.
He was an avid hiker with and sometimes president of the Comox District Mountaineering Club. But his greatest passion was skiing. He and his buddies would hike from Bevan to the top of Mt. Becher for the one run race to the bottom. He won many trophies for ski races on Forbidden Plateau Ski Hill and Green Mountain, near Nanaimo.
As a young family we went up the mountain every autumn on work parties to help clear brush for the ski runs working off our family season pass. He belonged to the Forbidden Plateau Ski Patrol, serving as captain for 25 years. Later on he became a ski instructor.
Dad started working as an oil truck driver for B.A. Oil. After the sale of that company he worked for the City of Courtenay, Central Builders and at the Comox Air Base. But first and foremost Dad worked hard to provide for his family. He built the family home on Mission Hill and along with our mom, Bev, worked tirelessly on developing the property with a large vegetable garden, apple trees and landscaping.
We were able to go on ski trips, a trip to Disneyland and went camping in the interior of BC each summer on his yearly two week holidays because of his devotion to his family.
Upon retirement he and Mom travelled south to the southern United States enjoying hiking, boon docking and meeting up with friends. They went on cruises to Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and South America.They also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Mexico and China.
Over the past five years, Dad suffered progressively from dementia. It was a staggering blow when he and Mom could no longer live in their home on Evergreen Ave. due in part to Mom's illness as well.
His dementia progressed further after Mom's passing. His final days were in Cumberland Lodge where he is fondly spoken of and was close to the mountains that he loved. His son Brad, daughters Janice (Isenor) and Shelley (Larsen) and their children will greatly miss him. He will be remembered for his great sense of humour. He always had a joke to tell or a funny quip sometimes to the consternation of our mother.
We are relieved that he is now in peace and suffering no longer. Dad always wanted to go heli-skiing in the Bugaboos. Wishing for him every day a ski day. For those that knew him please raise a glass, whether it be whiskey or apple juice, and say a toast "to Stan"!