Gerald David Harvey

Born November 1, 1924 and passed peacefully on May 23, 2024. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 56 years, Gail, his son Steve (Heather), son Todd (Keely), daughter Nicole ( Doug), granddaughters Amanda, Megan, Lauren, grandsons Kyle, Bryson and Tristan and great-grandson Lucas.

Gerry was born in Canada but grew up in England. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942-1945, primarily as part of the ground crew maintaining and arming airplanes. He served overseas in England, France and Belgium. He assisted with the construction of one of the first airstrips for the Allied forces in Normandy following D-Day. He was hit with shrapnel in Belgium and regained consciousness in England. Following the end of World War 2, Gerry returned to Canada and eventually settled in British Columbia. He worked for the BC Power Commission and BC Electric, which later became BC Hydro, as an Engineering Technologist for 32 years.

Gerry was a master carpenter and his hobby was building boats. His largest was a 23’ 3” sailboat, which he started building in 1963 and launched in 1976. His favourite was an 11’ catboat, which he built in the 1990s after retiring from BC Hydro. He built eight boats altogether. When it became difficult to continue building boats, he decided to build his family planter boxes. He also built a house in Victoria, B.C., largely by himself.

Gerry loved life, his family, reading, poetry, sailing, motorbikes, camping, walking on the dyke near his home, nature, building with wood, music and many cups of tea. He had a wicked sense of humour. Gerry was a true gentleman and kind to all that he met.

Gerry’s family wishes to thank all the staff at West Shore Laylum and Suncrest Retirement Community for looking after Gerry.

Gerry will be deeply missed, but the memories he created will be a comfort to all who knew him. He will forever be in our hearts.

He asked that no service be held following his passing, but raise a glass of scotch or your preferred drink sometime in his memory. Should you want to leave a donation in Gerry’s name, his preferred charities were Union Gospel and Salvation Army.