Fred Roy Dawson

January 12, 1932 – September 7, 2016

Beloved husband, brother, uncle. Fulfilling his last wish, Roy passed away at home on Wednesday evening asleep in his bed, with his wife by his side. At peace.

Survived by Grace, his loving wife of 62 years, his three sisters, Geraldine, Vivian and Jean (Raynar), nieces Shawna, Cindy and Chris, nephews Sheldon, Dave, Allan and Daryl all of whom adored him. Predeceased by his parents, Fred and Amelia, brothers-in-law Leonard and John, great-nephew Brennan. Roy was a happy person and led a happy life. He loved his family and his wife’s family. He was loyal to his friends, had a wonderful, welcoming smile for everyone he met and was the ultimate optimist, no matter how dire the situation.

The family relocated to Mountain Park in Alberta for several years while Roy was very young. Other than that he spent all of his life in Fernie until age 21 when he headed out with a friend to seek his fortune, finally settling in Vancouver where he met his future wife.

He knew every peak and valley and lake in the Rocky Mountains in south-east British Columbia. Hunting and fishing were his early hobbies and his enthusiasm for both never waned, enjoying all that the country around Prince George had to offer during ten years residence there in the 60s and early 70s. Transferred back to Vancouver, he resumed salmon fishing on the Pacific Ocean and spent many weekends fishing along the coast of Vancouver Island, especially near Bates Beach. One major delight was when a friend bought a boat and invited Roy to come on board as First Mate, the Captain’s wife having declined the honour since one of the primary daily duties was writing the ship’s log. Ah, the joy of cruising through the Strait of Georgia exploring the Gulf and the San Juan Islands, up the Columbia and Snake Rivers into Idaho, navigating locks and dodging log jams.

Roy joined the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in Vancouver in the early days when there were only 49 employees at the head office and boarding the M.V. Bonabelle to travel from Horseshoe Bay to Squamish was the only option to reach the start of rail. He looked forward to every working day at BCRail for the next 38 years. Retirement brought a 5th wheel Prowler which he and his wife towed each year to Southern California “where the sun spends the winter” travelling through Arizona and New Mexico until finally putting down roots in California at a small and friendly RV Park with a golf course and a view of Signal Mountain. He took up the game of golf with enthusiasm (if not skill) and spent countless hours walking the course and enjoying the camaraderie. Summers were spent driving to visit his family in Fernie and on to Southern Saskatchewan where every available moment on the farm was spent playing hilarious card games with his wife’s family besides golfing with nephews and telling stories to nieces.

He did not “go gentle into that good night”. He fought Parkinson’s disease and open heart surgery, survived a broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder (when a tree fell on him during a moose hunting trip at the Mandalay), suffered through many broken ribs, fell off a stool and fractured a vertebrae while oom-pah-pahing at Expo ’86 but finally even his own indomitable will could not sustain his life.

Special thanks to the Fraser Health nurses and to the many caregivers who brought care and comfort; to Dr. Brian Morgan who was with him throughout his illness to guide and advise; to our neighbours who welcomed him as he travelled around in his wheelchair and to his friends who arrived Friday mornings bearing coffee and Sausage McMuffins. You all brought joy to Roy’s life.

There will be no formal service. A family get-together has been planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, if you so wish, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, Surrey, BC.