Tribute

Don was born Feb. 22, 1938 in the back of a sleigh, stuck in a snowbank, in Northern Manitoba.  A 7 month baby, at just 2 lbs., he was kept in a bootbox beside the woodstove and fed with an eyedropper until he was able to be nursed.

He is predeceased by his parents Bill and Marie and his stepfather Sid Chadwick as well as his first wife Darlene and his brother Dennis.  Surviving him are his wife Joyce, his daughter Kim (Fred Beggs), daughter Wendy (Rick Degroot), son Elliot (Jen) and his pride and joys, his grandchildren Cody, Curtis, Mathew, Andrew, Cole, Carter, Taylor, Brooklyn and step grandson Kyle.  He is also survived by his brother George, his sister Sharon and step sister Val (Dave Morton), as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family.

Growing up on a farm in Birch River, in Northern Manitoba, he developed a lifelong love for horses, cows and gardening. In his teen years he rode as a jockey for a rodeo touring company. He went to work for the CNR as a telegraph operator and relief station agent, a job he did for over 10 years. During this time he met and married Darlene Carragher and they had 2 daughters, Kim and Wendy. Then in 1966 they made a visit to Powell River, fell in love with the place and moved here in Dec. of that year where Don immediately got a job with MacMillan Bloedel as an apprentice millwright. He worked in the mill for 26 years both as a millwright and as a Mechanical supervisor and truly enjoyed his job. After leaving the mill, he worked around the province as a contract supervisor and did a couple of overseas stints as a mechanical consultant. In 1968 he met Joyce and they married in 1969. A year later they had a baby boy and Elliot joined the family. One of his greatest joys were the years they farmed in Wildwood. Don was very civic minded and served in many capacities in the Wildwood Ratepayers, the Moose Lodge, the Farmers Institute, Full Gospel Businessmens Fellowship, The Gideons and his local church. He also had a great love of curling and in particular enjoyed the Tuesday seniors group. One of the biggest life changers for Don was when, in his late 30’s, he met his Saviour Jesus Christ and became a Christian. From then forward his greatest desire was to serve the Lord well and to this end he went on a couple of mission trips to St. Lucia and Honduras to build a church in St. Lucia and girls’ residential school in Honduras. He loved singing and praising the Lord in worship services and especially loved meeting with the mens’ prayer group. Don was an inspiration to his family and those who knew him and will be deeply missed. His sense of humor managed to make every situation better and he always had a joke at the ready.

Till we meet again, see you in the funny papers grandpa.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Evangel Pentecostal Mortgage fund, The Gideons or the Cancer Society would be appreciated.