Tribute

QWASTeNAYe
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of QWASTeNAYe Ernest George Harry, Sr. at Powell River General Hospital in the early morning on Friday, July 13, 2012 at age 78.

Ernie was born on December 19, 1933 in Churchouse and moved to Sliammon in 1969. He lived his life as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. A hardworking logger and fisherman since the age of 13, he semi-retired in the 1970s but was still active as an entrepreneur in the fisheries industry.

In the tradition of Coast Salish culture he enjoyed telling stories. He liked to travel and, with wife Mabel always by his side, was a frequent participant in trips to Reno. He cherished his grand- and great-grandchildren and delighted in their accomplishments. As one of the last fluent Tla’amin language speakers his death is the loss of a significant and irreplaceable cultural resource.

Ernie was predeceased by his mother Elizabeth (née Hackett), father Jimmy, daughters Karen and Veronica, brothers Peter G, Moses and Leonard, sisters Agnes and Doreen, grandson Dion and great- granddaughter Samantha.

Ernie is survived by Mabel, his wife of 58 years, sons Calvin, Randy, Lawrence, Ernest, L. Maynard, stepson James Francis and sister Doreen Point (née Harry). Ernie and Mabel have 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

God saw that he was getting tired.
A cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around him
and whispered “Come with Me.”
Ernie suffered much in silence,
His spirit did not bend.
He faced his pain with courage,
Until the very end.
He tried so hard to stay with us
His fight was not in vain,
God took him to His loving home
And freed him from the pain.

The wake will be held on Wednesday, July 18 from 4 pm on at 6663 Homalco Road. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, July 19 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Church in Sliammon.