John Edward Gordon York

John Edward Gordon York, fondly known as Ed, was born January 31st, 1939 in Winnipeg, MB. Ed passed suddenly at home February 13th, 2023 in Duncan, BC at the age of 84. He is survived by the love of his life Kathy, his daughter Norah (Rob), son James (Georgina), four grandchildren who were the highlights of his life - Shelby and Stephen, Bruce and Rebecca “Becky”, and nieces, nephew and many cousins.

He married Kathy on April 23rd, 1962 in Summerland BC. For their 50th anniversary in 2012, they renewed their vows at a ceremony in Victoria at which a number of the wedding party and guests were able to attend. They celebrated their 60th anniversary at Providence Farm in 2022 with friends and family.

Ed was the only child born to James Edward Gordon “Teddy” York and Norah Isabella (nee Stephenson). He was predeceased by his parents, his aunts Annie Salmon (nee Stephenson), Sarah “Sadie” Stephenson, Betty Stephenson, Mable Stephenson and his uncle George Stephenson, Aunt Jean (nee Stephenson) and Uncle Archie Younger, and cousins Art (Alma) Younger and Gerry Younger.

Ed lived in many cities during his youth starting in Winnipeg where he had his first job of selling newspapers on a street corner, to Calgary where he finished high school and, after spending many years in Navy Cadets, join the Royal Canadian Navy in 1957.

Ed spent 22 years in the Canadian Forces living in Victoria BC, Winnipeg and Brandon MB, and Saskatoon and Canadian Forces Station Dana SK. In 1979 he retired from the Canadian Forces and moved his family to Duncan. At the age of 40 he started a second career working at the Crofton Mill where he worked for another 20 years until an injury preventing him from continuing to work.

He loved curling and watching curling, baseball, football and hockey. In retirement he took every opportunity watching and celebrating his grandchildren play sports, perform in plays and celebrate academic and Girl Guide and Scouting achievements. He rediscovered his love of creating (wood carving and burning) when he attended programs at Waldon House (VIHA) and St Ann’s Garden Club (Providence Farm). Ed loved to volunteer at St Peter’s Quamichan Church with everything from opening gates for events, driving older members to appointments and work parties.

Arthritis spread through his body most recently causing great pain in his neck and spine. In 2019, a diagnosis of dementia sent us all on another path. He started spending time with his companion Sabri Diaz who helped him begin to deal with the diagnosis. Life began again for him when he started attending programs through VIHA at Waldon House and through Providence Farm and the St Ann’s Garden Club. We cannot thank the staff and other participants enough for helping him through these last few years as he struggled knowing the dementia was progressing. He truly loved spending time with you all and working in the gardens or on crafts. We also would like to thank the many HandyDart drivers he had. He would watch the buses go by and say “Oh! I know him!”.

In 2021, Ed and Kathy moved to Wedgwood House on the edge of downtown Duncan. They quickly became part of the Wedgwood community. Ed loved seeing everyone; staff and residents alike. We would like to thank the staff especially for all your help and caring over the past two years.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican Church, 5800 Church Road, Duncan, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the SPCA or Providence Farm.

At last he has no pain