William Thomas McLellan

Born March 4, 1939 in Cumberland to pioneer families McLellan (1894) and Williamson (1904). Bill graduated in 1957 from Cumberland High School. Shortly there after he got word that the pulp and paper mill in Campbell River was paying $1.68/hour to start. Gas was 26 cent/Gal and beer was 25 cent/glass. That sounded better than shovelling snow, shovelling coal, and shovelling chicken manure out of a chicken coop on Saturdays. Seven days after graduation Bill started full-time at the pulp mill, at first on paper machines and then took a correspondence course and got into instrument mechanics.

In 1968 he married Patricia Gunnarson. Working as a team they raised three children, built a 32ft boat, two duplexes and a large new home overlooking the ocean, they never looked back. Apart from boating adventures and restoring nine old cars, Bill's two favourite pastimes were having a beer and a bullshit with friends (two beer if they were buying) and collecting and restoring vintage licence plates. It's hard to say which one he enjoyed the most, but he got darn good at both.

Bill retired from the mill after 37 years to the day, at age 56. He and Pat enjoyed many years cruising, boating and old-time dancing. In 2020, the onset of lung disease diminished these activities. He died peacefully on June 28, 2024 with his family by his side. A life well lived.

Thank you to all who took a spin on the dance floor of life with Bill.

At Bill’s request there will not be a service. Presumably an attempt at ensuring the final word is his.