Mr John Godfrey Bennett Michell

A childhood spent in Cornwall was followed by secondary education at Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire and then on to Cambourne School of mines in Cornwall where he qualified as a Mining Engineer.

A short stint working in Africa marked the beginning of his career in the mining industry. John subsequently moved to Canada first working in Quebec then at Brittania mines in British Columbia where he met his beloved future wife Elisabeth Theelen. They married on May 9, 1959 in Vancouver British Columbia.

Their first son Philip was born in 1960 in Elliot Lake Ontario where John worked for 3 years in the uranium mining industry.

After a extended spell back in England John and family moved to the Philippines in 1961 with John taking up a post with Benguet Mining Corporation and where he worked for the next 16 years bringing up his family which now included another son Andrew and a daughter Nicole.

Finally the Michell family moved back to Vancouver Canada in 1977 with John becoming involved in a number of different private mining ventures. In 1991 John took up the post of Inspector of Mines for the Canadian Government and where he undertook a number of different roles working for the government up until his retirement in 1995.

During his retirement John took the opportunity to indulge in some of his favorite pastimes including cooking, baking and avidly following Soap Opera’s. His breakfasts were legendary and he was addicted to Coronation Street.

John was a convivial and sociable man who enjoyed the company of others and was dedicated to his children and grand children. John made many friends throughout his working career and continued to do so right through his retirement.

During his latter years John suffered a number of illnesses, which were deeply troubling to his family however John had a passion for life, which enabled him to fight though these difficult episodes with humor and strength.

John Michell passed away on July 10, 2012 at Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. He is survived by his Wife Elisabeth, his children Philip, Andrew and Nicole; his six grandchildren, Jacynta, Kassandra, Kirsty, Aidan, Ralph and Bryce; his sister Yvonne.

John will be fondly remembered for his sense of humor and zest for life and he will be deeply missed by his wife, children and the many people whose lives he touched.