In Loving Memory (1941 - 2021)
The Early Years...
Born on Nov. 13, 1941 in Morrinsville, New Zealand.
Son of Harry Alexander (born in Exeter, England, 1911) and Doris Elizabeth Ruth Gray (born in Rongatea, NZ,1913).
Sibling to Ngaire (husband Neville Walker), Bruce (wife Alison), Janice (Cyril Markham), Cheryl (Murray Cobb), Royce (wife Elaine).
Royce passed in October, 1998 (age 42). Ngaire passed in October, 2021.
First memory, age 4 at Huntly. Dad farmed beside a coal mine. I remember bulldozers thundering past the house, also going to Bruce’s school through a paddock with a bull in it.
Moved to AKA AKA, at age 5, which is a an area formed by the Waikato river, and drained by tidal ditches dug by Dalmations in the 1930s. Known as The Swamp.
Dad did 29% share-milking. He had 60 Jersey cows and pigs. He took the milk to the cheese factory with the horse and cart and brought back whey for the pigs. I got into trouble one day when I rode my little bike under the belly of a horse. Exciting time when the cheese factory caught fire, the cheese hoops went up like rockets, and dad’s pigs lived on toasted forty pound cheeses for ages. Us kids used to play in the factory and eat the curds from the big vats. The washings went into a tidal creek so we would catch big eels that loved the cheese bits.
Ngaire, Bruce and I sometimes rode to primary school on Silver, our big white horse, other wise we walked or rode bikes. We always had calves to show on calf club day, and decorated plates, or made pavlovas, lamingtons or, coconut ice for prizes. Usually went barefoot, except in the cold, and wore shorts all year round. Took the steam train to our cousins down south at Rongatea, where Mum and brother Clarence and sisters Lillian and Pearl were born.
Quite scary when the huge Ka class black engine came hissing and roaring into the station at Pukekohe. Dad would say, “stay back or you will get sucked into it”. We had to help feed out hay, feed the calves using the farm horse and dray, until we got a truck around 1950, which we learned to drive. We would help pick up hay bales to store in the barn.
About 1953 Dad bought a Hillman van, complete with the modern little arms that flicked out from the door posts to indicate you were turning, instead of putting your arm out the window. When I first drove it with Dad, I was weaving all over the road, as the steering was so sensitive compared to the big truck. Much to my fathers alarm, as the gravel roads had large ditches beside them!
At 1955 age 13, I went to WAIUKU high school, form 3AT. Played on the First 15 Rugby team. Received the most improved army cadet award (shell case which I gave to Eric) after spending a week in army camp. When boys turned 18, they had to go to military training, unfortunately the year I did, it was the last year.
I learned to single water ski at the Elbow Ski Club, with Vic Potts boat, Skiwi. (His daughter Ngaire, went with Dave Francis and I to South America).
The first year of High School a Brass band was started by Doug Noble, the wood work teacher. Bruce was the Drum Major, the guy who lead the band when we marched. This was around the time I met my longtime friends Ray & (Laurelle ) Crosby, Kevin & (Jeanette) Drummond. Had a lot of fun times at Rays place.
Age 14, Dad bought a dairy farm at Tatarariki, Northland. Ngaire had gone to nurses school at Middlemore hospital. Bruce drove a truck at Te Kopuru. Had a lot of fun net fishing in the Northern Wairoa river with Dave McCahon, surfing and driving on the black sand beach and digging Toheroas at Glinks Gully (The Tasman Sea). We would sneak fruit from other farms and had a good table tennis club at the local hall.
Went to Dargaville High, played First 15 rugby, and also with the Northern Wairoa Rugby. Developed a lifetime friendship with David Francis (wife Ennis) and David McCahon (wife Lenna). David unfortunately passed away in January 2021.
Dad had a mental breakdown, so I left school at 15 to help Mum on the farm which was sold two and a half years later. Mum, me, Janice, Cheryl and Royce lived at Papatoetoe while Dad recuperated at Kingseat mental hospital. While there I took a train into Ellerslie to work at a glasshouse propagating Dahlias. I also played in the Papatoetoe brass band at this time.
In 1958 Dad got a dairy farm Job at Karaka, just off the Papakura and Pukekohe Rd, on the road to Waiuku. This is where I met Hugh, Garth, Diana and Pat, their cousins, and their parents Alan and Lou. Their uncles Andy and Lex lived on adjoining farms. I played rugby with Hugh and Garth for the Karaka club. Won the Senior “B”in 1959.
Late ‘59, Dad bought a small farm at Komakarau, Taupiri, 20 Ks N. of Hamilton. I stayed on at the Karaka farm to manage it with the help of a hired person. Spent quite a bit of time at the Ross’s, especially Sunday evenings when we played penny poker with lot’s of laughter. I held some pretty good parties at the farm as a lot of my Waiuku friends would come as well as my local ones. The Ross’s had a place at Laings Beach where I joined them a few times.
When Hugh came back from Canada, he and I gained our pilots license out of the Mangere airdrome, now the Auckland Intl. The aero club moved to Ardmore where the runway was paved. Slid down the runway sideways on my landing when doing my familiarization flight. The runway was wet and the winds were swirling. A Cessna that landed ahead of me went off the runway into a mower, so flights were cancelled. I rated on, Piper PA18 and 18A, Piper Tripacer, Cessna 152, 170 and Beechcraft. Ray and I flew up to Dargaville for the New Years party, one year. Did a low level beat up to let the McCahons know we’d arrived! Took everyone for a fly New Year’s Day.
About 1964, Kevin and I were camping at Whitianga when we drove up to Whangapoua beach to get some crayfish, but we didn’t find any. Ended up buying a beach section each, side by side, 600 pound for mine, 450 for Kevs. The reason was I knew I was going traveling so I would have to come home instead of spending all my money. Kevin still has his, it’s been wonderful for their four boys families and friends. I sold mine for $1300 when we bought our first house on Walker Ave. Worth maybe $400,000 now.
The journey to Canada
I hoped to sharemilk on the farm, but the owner decided to sell to Bevan White so I stayed on for a while. In 1966 while waiting for the German boat, Cap Colorado I stayed with Dave Francis’s parents and I worked with him at the Westfield freezing works, which killed beef and lambs for export. In Sept I boarded the Cap Colorado as a workaway in the engine room. My boss was a large German, whose only English was “F- - - man." We went to Opua for meat, Napier, and Lyttleton before heading to Canada. Took three weeks before stopping off at Tacoma to unload stuff. Two of us hitched a ride into town, the station wagon had holes in the floor. My idea that Americans were wealthy was quickly dashed.
Arrived in Vancouver on Monday. The immigration official on board asked me to wait till he processed the two passengers and the other workaways because I said I wished to immigrate. Talked to me briefly and sent me to the Sinclair centre. As I was walking along the wharf, a cab stopped beside me and he asked if I needed a ride. Nice guy. By 12 I was a landed immigrant. Another Kiwi from the boat had relatives in Richmond so we stayed there that night, then I contacted Murdie and Maureen Robertson in Burnaby.
I got a job at Ocean Falls in the paper mill, up the coast. $2.60 an hour, no overtime unfortunately because WAC Bennet wanted more people hired. Nothing else to do there, I needed to save money, so that was too bad. I worked there until April 1967 when I went to Expo 67 in Montreal.
On the way back from Montreal I stopped off in Edmonton and started running trenching machines for Don McMillan. Mostly for street lighting and subdivisions. Doug Clements was a foreman (lives in Aussie now). We did the Kilkenny area where Kara (Eric’s wife) grew up.
A trip through the jungle
I had bought a 54 Ford in Vancouver so I had wheels. Until it got stuck in the snow taking a guy up to his Mill in the winter of 69-70. He was broke so I got the heck back to Edmonton with a lift from a guy from an oil rig. While in Edmonton I travelled to Europe and England, met Dads Aunt Audrey. Bummed around the States with Allan Ross, and Dave Francis until I bought a bus which we drove to the 68 Mexico Olympics. We went on down to Panama, where we sold it for what it cost and then jumped on a banana boat thru the San Blas Islands and eventually to Rio for Carnival.
This is as far as my Dad got with his biography. I (Eric) will do my best to finish it off from here.
Dad documented his South American trip with a hand written diary and numerous carousels of slides. This was an impactful time in his life. I remember him narrating slide shows against the kitchen wall on various occasions. Kara, the girls and I were lucky enough to get a full account in August 2020.
What I can provide is a summary of the high points...
Oct 03, 1968 Chick Irvine, Perky Barton, Ngaire Potts, Dave Frances and my Dad left Edmonton in their freshly painted mini school bus
Oct.05 Utah, Grand Canyon, Arizona.
Oct.10 Rolled into El Paso. Then onto Juarez and Mexico City.
Oct.12 Arrived at the Olympic Stadium to witness the torch being run in for the opening ceremonies. They went to a number of events, specifically Track and Field
Oct.19 Moved onto Acapulco. Ennis Quarry and Trish Franks joined the group.
Oct.29 130 Aussies, Kiwis and Poms jump on the “President Kennedy”for an all you can drink cruise. They were almost out of booze before the boat left the dock. A right spectacle it was.
Nov.03 Drove back to Mexico City to watch the Mexican Grand Prix (1st Graham Hill, 2nd McLaren).
Nov.06 Oaxaca bound with Dave, Ngaire, Joyce (Kiwi), John (South Africa), Eugene (Germany), Allan (Aussie), Peter (Aussie), Wendy (Aussie). Chick and Perky had gone their own way.
Nov.07 Onto Salina Cruz and Guatemala
Nov.13 Crossed into El Salvador then San Salvador and into Honduras
Nov.16 Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Nov.20 Puntarenas and San Jose
Nov.22 “Cerro del Muerte” – They drove up 11,000 ft on a gravel road called the “Peak of Death”
Nov.24 San Carlos Beach. Drove over the Bridge of the Americas to Panama City
Nov.29 Obtained visa for Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. Hopped on the Rangitoto (boat) quickly to see John, Mike and Bill off. Ratio of girls to guys was 15-1 (mostly kiwi girls heading home) so had a few dances before heading to Colon via train.
Nov.30-Dec.2 Banana boated through the San Blas islands.
Dec.03 Sapzurro. Slep on the veranda of the customs house.
Dec.06 Medellin enjoyed the Christmas lights at night
Dec.08 Ate the tastiest bananas (4-5 inches long) ever in Porto Berrio
Dec.10 Train from Bogota to Girardot, Armenia and Cali
Dec.21 Bolivia
Dec.25 Chiclayo Pero. Splurged for a dinner. Christmas treat
Dec.28 Met up with Roger Blackburn for some story swapping.
Dec.30 John, Jenny, John and Eugene turn up in Iquitos
Jan.01 Took a dugout out on the Amazon
Jan.02 Went to the movie “Barbarella”
Jan.06 Had some Masato which is a native dish which consists of chewed roots which as spit into a bowl a left to ferment.
Jan.10 Pulcallpa, the food was terrible. Bland rice, beans and fish
Jan.13 Lima
Jan.22 Cuzco
Jan.23 Went to Machupicchu
Jan.28 Lake Titicaca
Feb.5 Brazil
Feb.9 Sao Paulo
Feb.10 Rio De Janeiro. Went to the Aussie embassy and found out my mates were at the beach...Ipanema baby!
Feb.11 Found a flat for 12 - 15 people. Not far from the restaurant "The Girl from Ipanema"
Feb.12 The rest of the boys arrived. John and Jerry had been thrown in jail in La Paz. 12 of us in the apartment on Barrata Ribeiero. Went out sambaing.
Feb.13 Lazy day on Copacabana beach. Lots to look at!
Feb.14 Getting trouble from the pad management. I said there would be 8 of us, but now there is 16. Cost us an extra $80. Arranged a party, then cancelled it. But everyone showed up anyways so it was a prety successful un-party. Fergie did his his act, to the horror of the ladies.
Feb.15 Beach during the day. Samba school parade at night.
Feb.16 Beach during the day. Main parade from 8pm-12am. Crashed at about 3am.
Feb.20 Heard that "Cuzzos" trip down the Amazon met in disaster, as the boat caught fire and they lost all their gear and money.
Feb.21 Went swimming in teh surf but too many big dumpers to enjoy it. The evening turned into a circus when the boys brought back a few of the local girls.
Feb.22 Took a ferry across to the Rio Cricket Club where a team from our group played soccer against the club team. Lost 5-2 but not all was lost as we went for a swim, billiards and drinking.
Feb.23 Went to see the big statue of Christ.
Feb. 26 Bus back to Sao Paulo. Interesting red ant hills along the road, 3 feet high. Watched Doctor Zhivago.
Feb.28 Slept in a messed up my day. wanted to go see the snake farm but time ran out. met Robert Calvo and Christine at a bar.
Mar.02 Drove straight into Paraguay without a passport check. Arrived in Asuncion.
Mar.3 Came across a terrific old hearse at a coffin makers place. Carved wood body on a '42 chevy.
Mar.4 Went aboard the President Lopez, a new boat. Sailed to Corrientes on the Paraguay River.
Mar.06 Hopped on the Ciudad de la Plata" more of an ocean liner than a river boat. Amazing value at $7.50, must run at a loss.
Mar.08 Docked in some smelly harbour. Impressive shops. Came across Francis in a bar and met Fergie later on. Only latin city with a sub-way. Lots of underground plazas. Does appear to have a traffic problem.
Mar.09 Nice steak dinner and few beer with the gang. Nancy, Ngaire, fergy, Pommie John, DaveB, Mike, Steve, Brian, Karen, Lucy, Pete, Duff, Millie and Garry, the Stewarts, Jerry and Joyce.
Mar.10 Obtained a Pom passport and smallpox vaccination. Went to the Italian quarter in Boca.
Mar.12 At the market getting a truck to Mendoza.
Mar.14 Arrived at Mendoza. Met up with another bunch of friends. Surprisingly Allan and Terry as well as they had trouble hitching a ride to Chile.
Mar.15 Slept in a missed the parade of gauchos.
Mar. 16 Excursion bus to Las Cuevas with Mike. Nancy and Ngaire picked up a lift with a well known local rally driver. The officials surprised us by cooking up some grub. a young man from Mendoza showed up and the three of us caught a lift into Chile.
Mar. 17 Santiago. Stopped in at teh Aussie embassy and met Mrs. Blackburn, daughter Veronica and son Brian. Her husband has a plane and farm down south.
Mar.18 Was supposed to go out to an experimental farm, but slept in again.
Mar.19 Out to El Bosque to see Mabel Blackburn's brother. ran into Nancy and few others. met Allan, terry and others at Mabels.
Mar.20 Met a guy who took us around to see a film and TV studio. Met Patricia, a girl we met in Rio.
Mar.22 Met Carlos. Mike and I had dinner with his family.
Mar.24 Saw Mad, Mad, World again.
March.28 Panama consulate for visa. Still in El Bosque. Looking to get a flight to Panama from Patricia's uncle.
Apr.01 Bus to Osorno.
Apr.02 Taken to a dairy farm. Attractive land but poor soil. Went to a sheep farm. Improvements being made with C.O.R.F.O.
Apr.03 Puertos veras. Hitched to Ensenada. Met Millie and Garry. Mike,Steve, Jim and I went for some vinos.
Apr.05 Bill Davies, peace corp guy from Kentucky took us to Jim Blackwells place. He's with the World Bank here looking after the loan to Chile and the head of the CORFO.
Apr.07 Visited more farms.
Apr.16 Back in Santiago at Mabels. Rang Patricia who says her uncle is over-due from Panama. Possibly crashed.
Apr.17 Plane actually landed in Africa and talk was it was full on contraband. So looks like that company won't be operating for awhile.
Apr.19 Flight to Miami.Andes plainly visible, stopped in Ecuador for refuel and over Panama City, the canal and Cuba.
Apr.21 Went to car delivery firm and picked up a '66 Cadillac. Drove it to Rochester NY. Duff and Pete picked up a '68 Buick which they drove to Montreal.
Apr.22 Got up a spewed this morning. Been having a stomach complaint for about a week now. Seems a bit more serious.
Apr.23 Made it to Washington DC. stayed in a frat house.
Apr.24 Visited the Monument, Smithsonian Institute, Capital, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and Kennedy's grave. Duff, Pete and I slept in the car.
Apr.25 Arrived in Rochester, NY and dropped off the caddy to Mr. Moselowitz. Greyhound to Buffalo and across the Canadian border no problem. Taxi to Margaret's aunts place and duly located the girls.
Apr.26 Marge's guy Bruce drove me out to a hospital for a check-up. One "doc" said I had hepatitis, a specialist said it was just a kidney virus. Rang up Eugene and did a tour of Toronto.
Apr.27-May.07 Feeling a lot better today and re-cooperated from whatever it was I had. Picked up another Cadillac in Toronto.
May.08 Arrived in Winnipeg.
May.12 Arrived in Edmonton
May.13 Stayed at Doug and Louise's. Turns out I have hepatitis.
May.21 Moved into a basement suite at Handfields. Went skiing and fishing on lake Wabamun with Emil, Simon and Remi.
Jun02. Work started this week but I'm laid up for a month.
Dad's journal had a bit more detail than what has been provided here, but I think it gives enough flavour to what his adventure was like.
The digging days
Dad's career as an earth moving specialist started in Edmonton when he hopped on a trenching machine for lighting and subdivision utility installations.
When he made his way to Vancouver he started working for an outfit named Castle Concrete. This is also when he started working with Duff Chambers. He worked with them until buying his first John Deere loader backhoe in 1975. As you can see, that machine was pretty “rustic”. From the looks of it, the cab didn’t have any windows. Pretty dusty and hot on the summer. I don’t want to think of what it was like in the winter…but then again we are talking about Vancouver so it was probably more wet than anything.
Amphlett Excavating Ltd was created. Dad did the work, Mom did the books. Dad spent many long days on the machine when Duane and I were young. “Make hay, when there is hay to be made” he always said. He developed his skills and became a very reliable and desired operator in the lower mainland. If he ever had trouble finding work, I never heard about it. Eventually, he sold the John Deere and bought a fancy Case machine. This time it had windows and AC.
In the early 90’s Dad was approached by Don Tonsaker to be a instructor at the Operator Training School (OTS) in Aldergrove. Dad obliged and found that not only did he have the skills to be an instructor; he enjoyed it quite a bit. He was well respected by his students and they always were very thankful for his guidance and wisdom. He also liked to have a bit of fun, as demonstrated in the “Less Dipper” picture that one of his classes presented him. Together with Bill Tonsaker, they held four classes a year. This worked out quite well as it provided a couple of weeks off between each class, which would allow Dad to switch his focus from dirt to water (sailing to be exact!).
I would go up to the school on occasion with Dad when he had to do something there on the weekend. He would let me use both the rubber tired backhoes and the larger track excavators. I would spend hours practicing my grading or just scooping and dumping. I wanted to enroll in one of his summer classes, because I thought it would be a neat skill to have…but he didn’t feel the same. He wanted me to concentrate on my education and was concerned that I would quit school to be a ditch digger.
In the late 90’s Dad transitioned from being an instructor at the school to being an Operator Evaluator. There was no formal requirement that operators needed to have any training, so very much like how my Dad fell into the career, if the regular operator didn’t show up basically anyone could get in the cab and give it a whirl. Eventually, the BC government mandated that at minimum a competency assessment was required for all operators in the province. He would go out to various locations throughout BC and spend a couple of days with the operators. He would calmly get to the now the individuals and ask them about what they were doing on the site and get them to show him a few things. Eventually they would ask “So, when is the evaluation starting?” and he respond with a smile, “It’s almost over.” I think the reason this part of his job was so satisfying was that he understood what it was like to be a young lad trying to make a buck and he would have appreciated some guidance when he first started out.
Dad worked into the 2000’s and eventually retired, turning his focus to golf, playing music , travelling and grandkids.
Family Life
Dad met Mom (Ibolya Venczel) at the ANZA club in Vancouver in 1971. They were married in February of 1972. Madge and Ted McLeod were there from the start and have remained friends ever since. John and Dzidra Rogers were also lifelong friends that despite moving back to Australia have always stayed in touch. Duff and Lucy Chambers, now residing south of the boarder were also a large influence to Dad's start in Canada.
My folks bought a small house on Walker Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. and welcomed their first son Duane Alexander Amphlett on September 23, 1972. Not long after my brother was old enough to walk Dad was looking after him one day. Just after putting Duane down in his crib for an afternoon nap, he notice the head of a small child walk past the front window of the house. “Want kind of irresponsible parent just let’s a toddler walk around the neighbourhood unsupervised…” it was at this point that he recognised that platinum blond hair and immediately rushed out to bring Duane inside! The youngster had climbed up the side of his crib and crawled out the window of his bedroom.
I arrive on Groundhog’s Day February 02, 1976. It was a few years later that Dad built the mirror dinghy, a small two sail boat. He painted it bright yellow and called it the “SunKiwi”.
Mom and Dad would take us to the ANZA club for various events and gatherings. ANZA was the Australia and New Zealand Club. We would meet Santa or watch traditional poi and haka dancing. Dad was proud to have us experience some kiwi culture.
Being boys, Mom and Dad kept us busy with all flavours of sport. We played Cricket (Mom made me handmade pads because I was pretty wee at the age of 6) and soccer early on. This is where we met lifelong friends the Bandringa’s, Ogilvie’s and Seberan’s. Duane, Bob, Peter and Barry were the older siblings. Me, Jen, Paul and Bryan were the younger ones.
We moved to Brantford Ave in 1981 or 1982 (just before i entered kindergarten). It was quite a stretch for my folks to make that commitment, but they worked hard, saved where they could and continued to make ends meet. Fortunately, they were able to survive the ridiculous interest rate boom that saw mortgage rates as high as 22%. I know this was a stressful time for them and my Dad did everything he could to ensure the money came in and Mom did everything she could to manage the household operations and expenses. I have memories of Mom inserting a light buld into my Dad's work socks so she could darn up the holes in the toes. Regardless, things felt pretty comfortable for us growing in in the 80's. We had what we needed.
Dad joined the Mirror Group which was based out of the Jericho sailing club. It was a great group of people who shared a similar interest (the Quicks, Spencers, Poutiseaus and Koelinks just to name a few). We had many regattas in English Bay and I have very fond memories of playing at Jericho Beach when it wasn’t my turn to be in the boat. There were also camping trips to Osoyoos and Vaseux Lake which were always entertaining. One year, when I was about 12, I had stayed up late around the campfire with the other kids. When I eventually slide myself into the tent I was sharing with Dad, there came this voice, “Bloody hell boy…were you sitting by the fire or rolling around in it?”. Dad had a dry wit about him that was simply entertaining.
Eventually, Mom and Dad upgraded to part ownership of a 26 ft Columbian sailboat called Karion (strange name for boat if you ask me). In between Dad's classes Mom and Dad, and sometimes me and Duane would take the boat up the coast for a long weekend or more. The best trip ever was a week in Desolation Sound. We stopped in at Squirrel Cove, which happened to have a single dwelling on shore, which was a bakery. We had to row out the evening before to place our order and at 6am Dad and I rowed out to pick up fresh cinnamon buns and bread. For dinner we bought a couple pounds of prawns off a nearby boat and fried them up with garlic butter. I only remember Dad ever getting sick once while he was sailing, which is pretty good considering. Dad was always well prepared. He had his boating license and took the Power Squadron training. He was also very diligent with writing in the Captains Log every trip. Some of which he provided to me just recently.
Once we got a bit older Duane and I got into hockey. Dad volunteered as the team Manager on a number of occasions. Both Mom and Dad were supportive and enjoyed watching both of us play. Although, they didn’t take it as serious as other parents at the time (thank goodness). Duane had talent and played triple A PeeWee, which was pretty serious. I’m sure that was stressful and uncomfortable for them at times. Dad did well to keep a level head when things got “heated” at the ice rink. At one of Duane's games between Burnaby Winter Club and Burnaby Minor a brawl erupted between the parents in the stands. One of the funniest hockey memories was when Dad went to pick up Duane from the rink after a game he just refereed. Duane threw his gear in the back and before he could get in the front seat, Dad took off. Duane had no trouble keeping up and getting Dad’s attention! I think that was our first indication that Duane may be a better runner than hockey player!
Dad built us a tree fort in the back yard at the Brantford house which was well used. Using some excess drainage pipe and giant posts he erected a tire and rope swing. Just what all young boys need to keep busy and active. In 1988 Dad acquired a trampoline for us, which was awesome but also probably a large contributor to my future ACL replacement as an adult!
The 1990's saw Mom and Dad spend many, many afternoons at track meets with the Ogilvies watching Duane and Perter tear up the track. The Ogilvies were like a second family to us growing up. We spent many holidays together. Dad and Jim would talk about rugby and the Americas Cup as they had a special bond both being kiwis.
The Bandringas (Dirk, Ria, Bob and Jen) are another group of special people we spent many holidays with. I particularly remember the New Years Eve gatherings. Dad particularly appreciated his time with Dirk recently. He would enjoy a fruit and fibre muffin and small coffee as they sat across from each other in their vehicles in the parking lot.
In 1998 Dad flew down to Mexico where he met up with Robert (Bob) Hiner. The two of them sailed the Les Rodasan which was a 36ft vessel (named after Lesley, Robert, David and Sandra) from Mexico to Hawaii and then all the way up to Vancouver. Just another amazing adventure, much better told by Dad of course!
Duane chose to go to St. Thomas More Collegiate where Mom and Dad enjoyed being part of that community. Many friends were made while Duane and I were students there. Mom and Dad have attended many Remembrance Days ceremonies since.
In 2001, our family was devastated with the loss of my brother Duane. It was with the support of our family and friends that we have all learned to live without him. This was an impactful loss to my Dad, which left a lasting scar. He wasn’t one to talk about his feelings much in this regard, but I had a few heart to hearts recently with him. His love for his first born son was as deep and strong as you can imagine.
In August of 2001, Kara and I were married. Dad was thrilled to welcome Kara to the family. Dad enjoyed throwing parties, so we had a quite the spectacular pig roast in the back yard with all our friends and family. Dad developed an extra special bond with Kara over these last couple of years due to her background as a respiratory therapist. They were able to discuss CT scan results and she was able to reassure him of what to expect with respect to the medical system and help him navigate his treatments. I know that he greatly appreciated her advice along his journey.
The later years...
It was later in Dad’s life that he took up golf. Like no joke, in his 60’s. He started off with a round here and there. Eventually, he was playing every Tuesday in the men’s league at Nico Wynd and winning deuce pots left right and centre. Being healthy and fit was a central mantra for Dad and golf fit the bill nicely. It didn’t hurt that he was half bad at it. Practice makes perfect of course as evidence from some on-line swing coaching videos i was able to find.
Mom and Dad did quite a bit of travelling in their later years. There were many trips to New Zealand to see Dad’s siblings and Australia to see Mom’s siblings. They went to England with Janice, Cyril and Paul to do some family history sleuthing. They also went to Eastern Europe to trace back Mom’s heritage from Zagreb, Zrenjanin, and Hungary.
Dad was highly involved in the Uplands strata at Gillis Walk. He took great pride in how the complex looked and was sure to lend a hand with tree pruning etc. He had no qualms about providing his expertise to the landscapers to ensure that they were doing things properly.
Dad also decided to re-establish his love of music later in life as well. He played the french horn, trumpet, pocket trumpet, and cornet. He joined the Little Mountain Brass Band which he thoroughly enjoyed. I think he liked getting all dressed up as much as playing his instrument! He also played in a community band that would visit various facilities where they could spread the joy of music. Avery and Addison had the delightful opportunity to participate a guest percussionists on one occasion. Nothing made him prouder.
Most importantly, Dad was chuffed with his two granddaughters Avery and Addison. We would visit Mom and Dad at their Gillis Walk home at least twice a year in the early years. Usually the spring and summer. Mom and Dad would usually come out to Edmonton for Christmas and any other time that was convenient. Grandad was as much the goofball as you can imagine. He would always be saying funny things and entertaining the girls on a regular basis. We had to keep an eye on Dad though, as once we thought Grandad was looking after Avery when we were walking through the mall…but we were wrong. Luckily Avery didn’t get too far away!
Grandad’s favourite thing was to take the girls down to the Baskin Robbins for ice cream at the bottom of the hill from their complex. Ice cream was his favourite. He was very proud of both of them and has made a lasting imprint on their lives.
It was very special to have Grandad with us in Edmonton for the past five months, right to celebrating his 80th birthday! We are also thankful that Louise Humbke (daughter of Evelyn Darch) was also able to visit during Dad's final days. While it certainly had its challenges, I can’t image it being any other way. He will be dearly missed.
I encourage all to share their love, stories, picture and videos of Gray (aka Dad, Grandad) in the forum section.
Interment of ashes Jan 22, 2022
Together with my Mom, Uncle Eduard and his family Michelle, Eli, Lucas and Zack, we placed Dad's ashes to rest with his son Duane this past Saturday. It was a beautiful sunny day at OceanView Memorial Park.
Mom and I would like to thank the Ogilvies, Bandringas and McLeods for their support and sharing in our remembrance of Dad.
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