R. Grant Ashall

It is with sadness we announce the passing of our husband/father/grand-father/great grand-father, Richard Grant Ashall of Salt Spring Island, BC on May 21, 2021 at the age of 88. Grant was born on November 27, 1932 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The only child of Kathleen (Kay) Adeline Barsky and Thomas Reginald Ashall. He grew up in West Vancouver, BC with his father and paternal grandparents William Ashall and Mary Hannah Halsall.

Grant loved to work with his hands and engaged in multiple careers first as diamond driller as a young man in the Northwest Territories. Other jobs included working as a driver and ‘chipper operator’ for the Tree People on the North Shore; a diamond driller for the BC Department of Highways; owner/operator of his own car salvage business; part owner of Standard Truck Parts; truck driver, flagger and labourer for Aardwolf Electric Limited and Coast Contracting; a courier and a shuttle bus operator at the Vancouver Airport for Commissionaires BC. Giving up his license late in life was a very difficult decision.

Grant loved cars from an early age and in retirement; he was a frequent attendee at used vehicle auctions. He also took pleasure dabbling in his shop creating wooden foot rests, doll houses, miniature cars, golf carts and wall plaques.

He was a lifelong fan of the BC Lions and Vancouver Canucks and enjoyed watching the games and loved talking about hockey. He was star struck when he received a surprise invitation courtesy of his daughter-in-law, Joan, to have lunch with his son Michael and two stars of the BC Lions at the Shaughnessy golf club. It was a terrific lunch and the players, Travis Lulay and Marco Ianuzzi were wonderful hosts.

Grant was a reader and enjoyed history and political stories. He loved talk radio from the early days with hosts such as Pat Burns and Jack Webster to his later years listening to syndicated talk radio through the night.

He also loved travelling with his spouse Isabell and they spent many fun summers exploring the south in their RV.

Grant had an adventurous spirit and when younger could be found white water rafting in the Fraser Canyon, riding a motorcycle, piloting his small boat off of Mosquito Creek and crashing cars at demolition derbies!

Grant was actively involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and every year celebrated his AA birthday on Christmas Day. He was proudly sober for 50 years. He embraced the serenity prayer and made many lifelong friends in AA

Grant is survived by his wife of 55 years, Isabell; daughter Kellie (Charlie); step-daughters Elizabeth, Sheila (Mark); step-son Michael (Joan); grandchildren Justine (Tony), Jessica (Eric), Benjamin, Tom, Pierce, Travis and Shane (Brittney)

great grandchildren: Dylan, Audrey, Violet, Logan, Madison, Cassidy and Corrine.

Grant was predeceased by his daughter Corinne and grandson Corey.

The family would like to thank all the care workers and medical professionals on Salt Spring for the care and compassion that allowed Grant to spend his final months at home.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Luncheon at Fraser Height Chapel, 14835 Fraser Highway, Surrey on Monday September 13th at 1:00 pm

Interment will precede the luncheon at Langley Lawn Cemetery, 4393 208 St, Langley, BC at 11:00 am.