Bradley Bruce Chaplain Beckett

      To Bradley Bruce Chaplain Beckett, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Brad, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Brad really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Brad was born on April 27, 1977 at Langley Memorial Hospital in Langley, BC. His parents were Lyle & Diane Beckett. Brad was raised in Chilliwack, BC. Even as a child, Brad had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Brad was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Brad managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Brad was raised with two. He had his sister, Alana and brother, Tom.

      All of Brad's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Brad experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in Baseball, Hockey, Pacific Coast Refereeing (1987 - 1997) Coached midget hockey (2003 - 2004) and started Roller Hockey in Chilliwack with Bob Marion. In his spare time he liked collecting hockey cards, played trombone, bass guitar and drums. Brad's memorable achievements included riding a 2 wheel bike at the age of 3.

      Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Brad was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Brad simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Brad, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Brad's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Brad graduated from Chilliwack Senior High School in 1995. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mr. Toor.

      Brad reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Brad was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Brad, life was not a case of all play and no work. Brad relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. His favorite courses were Gardening/Landscaping at the Stratford Career Institute.

      Brad never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Brad to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Brad delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Brad was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Brad utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, he became friends with Kelley English, Sheldon Nickle, Mike Chapman, Jerry Hatter, Dave Parker, Collin Donaldson, Bob Black, Bob Marion, Matt Rampton, Cobb Rampton, Mike Pfiffer, Pat Webber, Mike Johnson and so many more, it's hard to list them all. Brad loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      At work, as in life, Brad was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Brad liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Brad was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Brad's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Brad as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was Landscaping. He was employed for Safeway, Upper Valley Avation, Lawn Pro Landscapes, Countryside Landscapes, Rampton Stonescapes and Brad Beckett's Mountainside Landscapes.

      Brad brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Bradley Bruce Chaplain Beckett lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.It is with sad hearts we announce the death of our son, Bradley Bruce Chaplain Beckett. Son, Brother, Grandson, Nephew, Uncle, Cousin, Friend and BEST Friend to all that knew him.

Brad's Obituary

Brad ws born April 27, 1977 in Langley, B.C. to Very Happy and Proud Parents, Lyle and Diane Beckett (Erickson). We loved Brad and enjoyed every minute with him. Brad's passions were hockey (which he played, coached and refereed), music, playing the drums, baseball (his team won the provincials), his dog, Wailand that he called "pup" and of course, his family and friends.

Brad loved the outdoors. Because of that, he chose Gardening/Landscaping as his career, where he was awarded his diploma with highest honours. He worked for Rampton Stonescapes for a number of years where he learned and perfected his talent. Brad, with the help of Matt Rampton, dug a hole in the front of Alana and her husband Dan's front yard, which became a beautiful waterfall (the first he ever built). That waterfall will be loved and admired forever. Brad completed all of his school years in Chilliwack where he met most of his closest friends.

He is survived by his parents, Lyle & Diane; sister, Alana (Dan Morris); nephew, Jordan ("Jords"); brother, Tom; grandparents, Rev. & Mrs. Bruce Beckett and Chappy & Betty Erickson and sadly predeceased by Grandma Karin Erickson (Svensk) in 1970. Brad was blessed with many aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and great uncles in Canada and Sweeden as well as his girlfriend Lois (Hailey & Owen) whom all loved him deeply.

A Service of Remembrance was held on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chilliwack Alliance Church, 8700 Young Street South.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a memorial formed in Brad's memory, H.O.C.K.E.Y. - Helping our Community Kids Enjoy Youth, enabling disadvantaged kids to have the opportunity to play hockey in Chilliwack.

We thank the Lord for all our wonderful family, friends, work-mate friends, and friends of Brad, Tom, Alana & Dan's. We know you are all suffering too.

Thank you to the R.C.M.P., Victims Services, the Health Care Staff and anyone who witnessed the accident and lent their help