Arthur William Pyke Clancy

Art is survived by his loving wife Donna, daughter Carol and son Ken (Anne Marie). Art was blessed to have six adoring grandchildren, Mitchell, Matthew, Siobhan, Holly, Ethan and Lauren.

Born in New Westminster in 1939, Art grew up on a dairy and mixed crop farm in East Delta. He had an adventurous childhood, with a multitude of stories about visiting relatives in White Rock, hunting ducks and pheasants on the farm and observing the air force training during WW2 at the nearby Boundary Bay Airport.

After graduating from high school Art enrolled in agriculture at UBC. He met his wife Donna in 1960 at the Bluebird Cafe in Ladner, after seeing her at a nearby table and betting a friend that he could get a date with her. Upon graduating from UBC in 1961 Art and Donna moved to Toronto, where Art began a lifelong career in agri-business.

Art and Donna moved back to Ladner in 1964 when Art began a twelve-year tenure with the Buckerfield’s organization, then the dominant agri-business in BC. While working at Green Valley Fertilizer Art saw the need for a full-service fertilizer business in the BC interior. Against the advice of his colleagues, and perhaps with a touch of defiance, Art decided to make the bold move to start his own fertilizer business.

Okanagan Fertilizer was founded in 1976 and flourished due to Art’s foresight, perseverance and expertise. Art was a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) and his extensive understanding of soil and plant nutrition became a cornerstone of the business. He brought innovative prescription fertility and custom fertilizer application services to the BC interior, helping clients improve the profitability of their businesses. Many will remember the iconic “Elephant Brand” logo from Okanagan Fertilizer’s long-time dealer association with Cominco Fertilizers (later Agrium). Today Okanagan Fertilizer remains a successful family owned business with operations in Enderby, Williams Lake and Oliver.

Art was a true gentleman, always courteous and engaging to those he encountered. He loved fishing in Okanagan Lake for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee, often smoking his catch to share with family and friends. He enjoyed the companionship and playfulness of his Labrador Retrievers, Brandy and Bourbon. But more than anything else Art loved being around his grandchildren at their frequent family gatherings.

As Art’s health declined over the last few years, he never failed to maintain a relentlessly positive attitude. Staff at the Polson Care Facility and Vernon Jubilee Hospital were quick to remark that art was always friendly and optimistic. When asked “how are you?’ he would usually reply “not bad for and old guy”.

Our family is forever grateful for the exceptional care Art received over the years by Dr. William Lemiski, his family doctor. We would also like to express our most heartfelt “thank you” to the staff and medical professionals at the Polson Care Facility and Vernon Jubilee Hospital, who together made Art’s final few years comfortable and pleasant

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 11 at 2:00 pm at the Coldstream Community Hall. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.