Gerald Thomas Brown

Dad (Red) to his friends passed away peacefully during the night of September 10-11 2015 at Langley Memorial Hospital, his family’s love surrounding him as he left us. Dad will be forever missed by his four sons, their families Mark (Ellen), Gerry jr (Karen), Douglas (Erika), and Geoffrey. Grandchildren Jessica, Stacey, Mac, Katie, Trevor, Tanya, Christine, Matthew, Dustin, Erin, Garett, Twila, Great grandchildren Conner, Dylan, Catherine, and Jessica, many cousins, nieces, and nephews from around BC, Friends and former work partners.

Dad was born to Parents Mr. Harry Vernon, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Brown on February 20, 1927 in Burnaby. Dad was the fourth of four boys in the family; his brothers were Brian, Harry, Jack. The family lived for a number years in Burnaby, then they moved out to Langley into the area known as Sperling . They grew up there, Dad’s three older brothers all went war, and all survived to come home, in fact it was a newsworthy event in the Langley papers during that time for the three to return. Dad was too young to join up and his Mom and Dad needed him to help out on their farm anyway. Dad used tell stories of the hardships that the families had to endure during those war years, shortages of rubber tires and gasoline being among them. Dad did get a bit of ribbing from his brothers after they got back.

Dad started his working life like so many others in the forestry sector, working in the following areas Vancouver island, BC mainland, Hope, Jones lake areas, and Aspen Grove, his time spent equally between logging and log scaling during these years. When Dad was done with logging he did some work on the pipelines that were being installed to the lower mainland. During the early 60’s he obtained his Realtor license and began the career that he would ultimately retire from, working with companies Darcy Brown Lendard, Miller and Doupe, Hugh and Mckinnon in Fort Langley, Langley, Cloverdale, and White Rock.

Dad met a young lady in Burnaby named Beverley Cairnduff in the early 50’s, they fell in love and were married in 1954. Son Mark was born at Hope BC, in December 1954. In 1957 Mom, Dad and Mark had moved to Langley city on the Berry Road near Fraser Highway when Gerry jr was born in Murrayville hospital. In 1960 the family of four moved to Port Kells to 184 st north of 88th ave. Douglas was born in 1962, and Geoffrey in 1963, both births in Murrayville hospital. The family experienced hurricane Freda when a Dairy barn across the road was blown down during the storm that year. Mom and Dad with the four boys needed space so Dad dug out the crawl space of the home to put in a basement by hand and with help from his Gibson tractor. It was quite an undertaking to do.

Dad was a hunter growing up in Sperling, and this carried on through the years with many trips in the 60’s to the Chilcotin and Gang ranch areas to hunt for game with Del Worrall, Harry Doupe, later the boys participated in these trips during the 70’s with Dad, and Del, these are treasured memories for us. Camping was another pastime for the whole family including pets with many summer trips into all parts of BC with campers that Dad had built himself. Hockey was big in our family, HNIC, street hockey on 184st, Mark, Gerry played at North Surrey, Doug, Geoff played at Cloverdale, with Dad being elected President of the Cloverdale minor hockey association from 1975 thru 1977.

In 1974 Mom and Dad bought 10 acres just across the road in Port Kells and proceeded to build a house, clear the bush, raise some cows, this was going to be their retirement project. In 1978 Mom and Dad found a property on Murphy Lake in the 100 mile house region which was purchased, another project for the summers. A cabin was put up over the years, Mom and Dad would spend lots of time fishing, tinkering, and relaxing there. Mom and Dad were good friends with John and Anne Lescisin and spent time together between Murphy and Green Lake. Mom retired in 1986, and Dad around 1992, they spent their time at the farm, with trips to the lake up to around 2002, fewer trips after that, till 2005, when due to Moms health they could not go anymore. But we always talked about the status of road in and the lake, and fishing success or lack of.

Mom passed away in April of 2012, Dad carried on tinkering at the farm. Dad fractured his hip in July of 2014, spent a number of weeks in Langley Memorial Hospital to recover, he then moved into Harrison Point nearby to recuperate from his injury. He enjoyed his time there, the staff cared for him deeply, sadly he was not able to recover enough to come back to the farm.

There will be a family Funeral at Fort Langley Cemetery at 11:00 am followed by a Celebration of life at Henderson’s Funeral Home in Langley 20786 Fraser Highway at 2:00 pm on Saturday September 19, 2015.

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Gerry passed away peacefully during the night of September 10-11 2015 at Langley Memorial Hospital, his family’s love surrounding him as he left us. Dad was 88. He will be forever missed by his four sons, and their families Mark (Ellen), Gerry jr (Karen), Douglas (Erika), and Geoffrey; Grandchildren Jessica, Stacey, Mac, Katie, Trevor, Tanya, Christine, Matthew, Dustin, Erin, Garett, Twila, Great grandchildren Conner, Dylan, Catherine, and Jessica, many cousins, nieces, and nephews from around BC, his Friends and former work partners.

Gerry was born in Burnaby, growing up there and in Langley at Sperling. He worked in the forestry sector, working on Vancouver Island, and BC mainland, at Hope, Jones Lake, and Aspen Grove. Gerry also worked on the pipelines that were being installed to the lower mainland during the 50’s later he became a realtor working in Fort Langley, Langley, Cloverdale, and White Rock areas.

Gerry and Beverley met in Burnaby, and they were married in 1954. They raised four boys in Port Kells. Gerry was a hunter with many trips to the Chilcotin, Gang Ranch areas. Gerry was involved with the Cloverdale minor hockey association as President from 1975 thru 1977. Dad retired around 1992, spending time at the farm, with trips to their Murphy Lake property. At the time of his passing Dad was living at Harrison Point. Dad was predeceased by his wife Beverley in 2012.

There will be a family Funeral on Saturday September 19 at Fort Langley Cemetery at 11:00 am followed by a Celebration of life at Henderson’s Funeral Home in Langley 20786 Fraser Highway at 2:00 pm.

Arrangements under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home.