Stephen Edgar Gatensbury

It is with love and sadness that we report the passing of Steve at the remarkable age of 102. He will be greatly missed by his children, Sue (Bob), Mavis (Dave) and Ross, grandchildren, Michael (Amber), Leah and Amy (John), step grandchildren Blair and Tracey (Simon) and great grandchildren, Abigail, Oliver and Ellen and step great grandchildren Ethan and Isaac.

Steve was born in New Westminster in 1923 and attended TJ Trapp Technical School until the age of 16 when he was pressed by family obligation to take over for his father at Fraser Mills when his father could no longer work. This early introduction to the sawmill evolved into a fifty-year career in the BC lumber industry. Over the years he worked his way up the ladder in various BC interior mills and ended his working life owning his own remanufacturing plant in Langley, BC. He retired in 1989.

When he was old enough to enlist, in 1942, Steve joined the navy serving for 3 ½ years during WWII where he and many of his crew mates survived the torpedoing and sinking of their ship in the North Atlantic. While stationed in Halifax he met the love of his life, Geraldine Copp and they were married in 1946. They lived as a happy couple until Gerry's death in 2013.

For most of his married life and especially after retirement he embraced another love of his life ... writing. He self-published many volumes featuring his whimsical take on the human condition, a memoir of his childhood, another of his career and books of irreverent and serious poetry. His books grace the shelves of his family, friends and neighbours. Much of his writing took the form of lively correspondence with friends and acquaintances over many years.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Pauline and his sister, Ruth. Gatensbury Road, the location of the original family nursery business in Coquitlam, is named after the family.