In loving memory ~
Terry passed away peacefully at 86 years old in Cowichan Hospice House. He was the second youngest of nine children (Ruth, Harold, Thelma, Barry, Bob, Rosemary, Sylvia, Terry and Pat). The family grew up in a rural area in Duncan near Barnjum Road with no electricity or running water. Dad always joked about the outhouse being hot and cold running (hot running in the summer and cold running in the winter).
Terry's father Arthur died when he was six and life was not easy for his mom Mabel and siblings. The family also suffered further tragedy when his sister Thelma passed away at an early age due to illness. At around the age of thirteen, his brother Harold insisted that they move somewhere more civilized, so they picked up and moved to James Bay. They moved again to Vic West and then finally to Esquimalt where Harold lived upstairs, and the family lived downstairs.
At fifteen, Terry moved with his brother Bob and Bob's wife Violet to look for work in the Interior of BC somewhere near Revelstoke. They both got jobs and eventually started logging using horses! Terry was always grateful to his brother Bob who took care of him and offered good advice. Dad and his younger brother Pat were close in age with only two years between them. Terry and Pat looked out for each other from early childhood. If you ever crossed one brother, you crossed them both. However, they had their own sibling rivalry that led to black eyes and broken knuckles on occasion. One time over a piece of toast!
After leaving Victoria Terry went logging in the hills of Youbou living in the bunk houses. Dad loved playing cards! He loved playing cards with his friends in the bunkhouse and immensely enjoyed all card games his whole life. Terry was always up for a game of crib and would light up talking and playing for hours. Terry coined the phrase "And in the crib where it counts" always with a smirk.
Dad was a good mechanic and had 'souped up' plenty of cars in his day. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast and rode a variety of different bikes, especially wartime Harleys. He loved to help his friends fix their cars and anything else that might need fixing.
In Dad's younger years, if you couldn't find him in the house, he would be in the shop tinkering. Eventually, Terry took a job at the Youbou Mill where he worked for 40 years. He purchased a floating house on the lake. It was in Youbou where he met Donna McKenzie and married her. Dad started his career in the mill on the Green Chain and soon moved up to Chargehand. In a few years, his boss steered him into a job in the Filing Room maintaining and sharpening saws. Dad proved to have a great aptitude for Saw Filing and shortly after received his ticket. He then moved on to be a Bench Man. A very desirable job! Dad would make us knives out of scrap saw steel. We are not sure how many knives Dad made for us, but we were the envy of our friends.
Terry and Donna moved to Sahtlam where Dad built the home that he would live in for the rest of his life. Terry is survived by his wife Donna, sister Sylvia and sister-in-law Marlene. Terry also leaves behind his four children Trevor, Travis, Trent and Vienna and nine grandchildren Daniel (Amber), Chadd and Tanai (Trevor & Trish), Morgan (Curt) and Jonathan (Travis & Shannon), Brady and Connor (Trent & Lesli), Milan and London (Vienna & Maurizio). He was also great grandfather to seven: Oliver, Noah, Jack, Palmer, Reese, Wallen and Bowen.
Terry was a Jehovah's Witness with a congregation of friends who supported him and were there for him in a heartbeat if he needed anything. Thank you to the Sidoroff Family, Dave Jeeves, Eugene Belsor, Jerry & Kathleen Navarro, Denise, and Curt Kelly for being such good friends.
Terry had a close relationship with his mother Mabel who lived to be 107 years old. Dad visited Grandma Mabel almost every day until her death in 2005.
Dad loved to be on the water boating with his family and friends, catching his share of salmon, steelhead, trout and crab over the years. He loved his property and the outdoors. Camping at Lizard Lake was always his favourite.
Terry had quite a sense of humour and was quick-witted. When we were kids, he used to terrorize us with 'The Story of Peg-Leg Pete'. If peas were present at the supper table, Dad would always pick someone at the table and whisper in their ear, "I'll tell you a secret. I eat my peas with honey. I've done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on my knife!" We miss you Dad! Your quick wit, funny anecdotes, and your willingness to help anyone without question.
Terry's service will take place at the Kingdom Hall, 1071 Canada Avenue Duncan on Sunday, June 25th at 2 P.M. followed by a tea at Travis and Shannon's home at 2090 Hampton Road Duncan. A very special thank you to the staff and volunteers at the Cowichan Hospice House who were exceptional. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Cowichan Hospice House.
Also thank you to Dr. Petrunia and the staff at Victoria General for trying everything to make Dad's stay more comfortable.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.firstmemorialduncan.com
Dignity Memorial Duncan