Tribute

Geoffrey passed away peacefully on November 20, 2014 with his family by his side. He was born on December 27, 1924 and grew up alongside his older brother Robin in North Vancouver, BC. He joined the navy at 17. Following the war he, Robin and their friends, known locally as the “Navy Boys” travelled up coast to Nelson Island. It was there that Geoffrey met Jacquelyn Pettigrew, the love of his life and future wife. Geoffrey made a career with Island Tug and Barge, later Seaspan.

He and Jacquelyn married on the mission boat John Antle and with their daughters Marjorie Ann and Jocelyn divided their time between Blind Bay, Nelson Island and Metchosin on southern Vancouver Island. Geoffrey had a love of the coast and enjoyed beachcombing, prospecting, fishing and boat building. His grandchildren have many fond memories of building “things that float.” Tremclad paint, a great second-hand find and small, hand-built boats will always have special meaning to those who knew him. In 1998 he moved to Powell River and later into Evergreen Extended Care Unit.

Geoffrey was predeceased by his brother Robin and his “clam digging sweetheart” Jacquelyn, to whom he was married for 36 years. He leaves behind daughters Marjorie Ann (Bill) and Jocelyn, grandchildren Wills (Robalin), Garret, Sam (Samantha) and Jacquelyn, great-grandson Liam as well as extended family and many friends.

No service by request. A private memorial will be held at Partington Point. Geoffrey’s family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen for their many years of kind care.

To A Man of the Coast
Another icon left us
to where we do not know.
Hope the waves are not too big
or the headway too slow.
He’s going there before us
our path he does prepare.
To be with those that left us
if only we knew where.
We shall surely miss him
a real man of the coast.
To him and those before him
we salute and give a toast.

~Verse by son-in-law Bill Harding