Bennie, Winnie Sunday, 21 Jan 2007
Williams Lake, BC
Winnie Bennie was born July 21, 1926 at Mrs. Eva’s Nursing Home in Vanderhoof B.C. Winnie’s father was Alexander Kynoch an accountant for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Fort St. James. Her mother was Annie Amelia Bird whose Metis Ancestors had come to New Caledonia with the North West Company from 1806 onward.
Winnie’s grandfather Alexander Campbell Murray served the Hudson’s Bay Fur Trading Company in New Caledonia for 35 years as Chief Factor.
Win spent her early childhood along with with her parents and sisters living on her grandfather’s farm on the banks of the Stuart River in Fort St. James. She was the youngest of three girls and enjoyed riding her horse Nellie to school. She had many fond memories of this era that formed her attachment to the land and nature.
As a teenager Win met and married her late husband, Fred. They moved to the Williams Lake area in the early 50s where they built the family home on Yorston Street above the Stampede Grounds called “Tipi Hill” in those days.
She was involved for many years with the Order of The Royal Purple, St. Andrew’s United Church, was presented with a Lifetime Membership to the NDP. She was a founding member of the Williams Lake Field Naturalists; helped to preserve Scout Island and the Nature House; and was a long time supporter of the SPCA.
Win was given the Conservation Champion Award by the Nature Trust of B.C. in 2006 to recognize her contributions at the Scout Island Nature Centre.
She is also being recognized by the Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife studies of B.C. for providing a significant number of observation records on the nesting of loons since the early 60s.
She loved to take on a task, roll up her sleeves and get on with the job. Anyone who knew her well was soon aware that she was a strong willed person and that if challenged she could and often would be a formidable adversary.
Her love of nature was passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with the gift of books, magazines and donations in our names to the Nature Land Conservancy and the SPCA.
She lived a simple life in tune with the seasons. An avid birder, Win loved to garden, quilt and did pottery and cross country skiing in the earlier years.
I remember arriving at the house one bitter cold day and she was hanging out the clothes on the line! Hands frozen.
My sister encouraged her to get a new washer and dryer and she did but the dryer was only used to store the cat and dog food! She loved the fresh smell of clothes being hung on the line.
Mom passed from life to eternity peacefully at Deni House, Jan. 21, 2007.
She was pre-deceased by her Husband Fred; parents, Alexander and Annie; her sisters Jean and Kathleen. She is survived by daughter Barrie (Doug) Brown-John, Lac La Hache; son Mike (Debbi) Bennie, Nanaimo; daughter Sally (Reg) Buchignani, Vancouver: grandchildren Shane Miller, Saturna Island; Rob Bennie, White Rock; Tara (Jason) Hooker, Chilliwack; Michael (Trish) Bennie, Maple Ridge; Leslie James, Victoria: step-grandchildren, Michele Buchignani, Toronto; Karen Newberry, Delta; Dean Buchignani, Surrey; Allison Buchignani, Victoria: great-grandchildren, Bryce, Loralei and Morgan Hooker; Little Mikey and James Bennie: step-great-grandchildren Nick and Holly Newberry: nephew Terry (Judy) King; great-niece and nephew Karla and Tyler King; and brother-in-law Harry King.
She touched many lives and her presence will be missed.
A Life’s work well done. Rest in peace mother.
A celebration of life will be held for Win Bennie, at St. Andrew’s United Church Friday Feb. 9, 2007 starting at 2 p.m.
A tea will follow. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Local SPCA or Scout Island Nature Centre.
Bugg, Barbara Wednesday, 17 Jan 2007
Williams Lake, BC
A bright beacon of light that had guided our family was extinguished with the passing of Barbara Anne Bugg on Jan. 17, 2007.
Barbara passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Barb was born in Vancouver on April 9, 1942. In 1947 the family moved to Montreal, Quebec. After elementary school she attended St. Helen's school for girls. She successfully completed her Grade 8 Toronto Conservatory of Music exam and was awarded a fine arts scholarship to the Slade School of Art in London, England. Family finances interfered but Barb was undeterred. She worked as a dental assistant and studied art in her spare time -- sometimes working all night to finish a commissioned project. Later she attended the Vancouver School of Art (Emily Carr) for a year.
However, travelling became her new passion. Barb and a friend travelled to India, Australia and New Zealand for two years. She then moved to Kamloops where she married and had two daughters Siobhan in 1971 and Jennifer in 1973.
Eventually Barb and her daughters moved to Comox where she met her second husband, Tom Bugg. They fell in love and were married in August, 1979.
Tom was retiring from the Canadian Air Force and moved on to a career of flying helicopters which brought the family to Williams Lake in 1982. Barb loved the Cariboo and loved the people she met.
She was a full-time caregiver and joined the Cariboo Art Society, flourishing as an accomplished artist while making new friends in the society. Her work included pastels, watercolours, and pen and ink drawings. She would spend a lot of her free time painting with friends Vivian Cowan and her daughter Sonia Cornwall.
In 1988 her passion turned to pottery and she spent many hours with potter Anna Roberts and the artisans of the Cariboo Potters Guild. She was able to win numerous awards and always worked to perfect her glazes and raku work.
Barb dealt with her affliction as she did with all things in life, with grace, dignity and good humour. Her last weeks, while often very trying, afforded her the opportunity to enjoy the warmth of her family and good friends. She invariably viewed the glass as half full and put the interest and well-being of others ahead of her own.
Barb's memory will forever remain in the hearts and minds of her husband of 27 years, Thomas Bugg, mother Anne Matthews, brother Ross Matthews and two daughters, Siobhan (Corey) Wright and Jennifer (Mark) Kopp and her six beautiful grandchildren: Sarah, Nicholas, Liam, Eric, Jesse, and Kelsey.
Our family wishes to extend sincere and heartfelt thanks to all members of the Cariboo Potters Guild, the Williams Lake Art Society, the Williams Lake Spinners and Weavers Guild. You were more than fellow artists. You were true friends and Barb rejoiced in your many kindnesses. All those lunches and baked goodies, your many visits, cards, flowers were truly appreciated.
Special thanks go out to longtime family friends Diane Bonnell, Linda Wasylenko and Libby Abbot for their love and support for Barbara and for us right to the end of her life.
We last, but not least wish to thank Dr. Labossiere, Dr. Brosseuk and Dr. Gill for the wonderful care they gave Barb. The nurses and staff, the Hospice/Palliative Care Society all were interested and cared about her welfare.
Barbara touched many people with her warm heart and was loved by everyone who knew her.
Prosser, Howard Tuesday, 16 Jan 2007
Williams Lake, BC
Howard Prosser passed away at home Jan. 16, 2007 following a 26-month battle with cancer. He was 72.
Born in Quesnel on March 10, 1934, Howard spent the first years of his life at Nazko and then a small ranch at Mountain Creek, near Baker Creek. He learned to hunt, trap, ride and do ranch chores at an early age.
School wasn’t all that convenient, but he managed to complete Grade 7 staying with family and friends and a lot of the time with his maternal grandmother. At 16 he quit school.
He went to work falling, and working in bush mills around Quesnel.
In 1955 he married Pat Sankey. They moved to MacAlister to work at Netherlands Overseas Mills. Their two daughters, Lorry and Kathie were born while they lived there.
When Netherlands moved the mill to Likely, the family moved to Williams Lake where Howard took a job at Merrill Wagner, later Weldwood.
He and Pat divorced in 1963.
He and Janet Kelt married in 1966. In 1974 they bought a sports shop in the mall by the Post Office, and he called it Howie’s Sporthaus. He had the store for 10 years, and said that Howie was “the best guy he ever worked for.”
Next he bought a trapline west of the Fraser River, near Mackin Creek. With friends he built a small cabin and Monday to Friday, he and Mike, his golden retriever went trapping.
He competed in Obedience with Mike and for several years taught dog obedience for the Cariboo Kennel Club. He loved the Chilcotin and spent many happy times camping, fishing hunting, canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, and riding in the mountains.
The opportunity to live in the Chilcotin came in 1988 when he and Janet moved to Four Mile Ranch owned by Wanda Dorsey and Roger Williams at Anahim Lake. Howie helped out on the ranch and trail rides, ran a trap line, and guided for Dave Altherr of Lehman Creek Outfitters.
In 1999 they decided to retire on their 40 acres at Riske Creek. They had a new home built, moved the horses and became a part of “Jasperville.” Howie enjoyed helping with the branding and riding with the local cowboys.
In 2005, they moved to Williams Lake.
His sense of humour saw him through the rough times, he never stopped telling his stories and jokes, enjoying visiting with family and friends.
Over the years, he and Janet did a lot of travelling. They visited and made friends in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Scotland, Turkey, and Mexico; the last in 2005, where he took a break from Chemo and went sailing in the Greek Islands.
He was pre-deceased by his dad, Ski Posser, and his mother Beatrice and brother Harold.
He leaves to mourn, wife Janet, sister Joyce Lillenweiss of Vernon, daughters Lorry (Nino) Fabbro, Kathie McCarville, grandchildren, Jeremy, Matthew, Levi and Trista, all of Prince George and many nieces and nephews, and lots of wonderful friends.
A celebration of life was held, Jan. 21, 2007.
He touched many lives and will be sadly missed.
“If there is another world he lives in bliss. If there is none, he made the best of this.” -- Robert Burns
Hutchinson, William Sunday, 14 Jan 2007
Williams Lake, BC
William Thomas Hutchinson was born June 8, 1941 to William Thomas and Annie (Bryce) Hutchinson at Big Creek B.C., where Bill grew up along with his sisters Norah, Eileen, Mary, and Lou, he was the only boy in the family of five.
Bill attended school in Alexis Creek as well as Big Creek, however he studied many different pursuits in this university of life. Bill came from a very musical family and learned how to play many different musical instruments, which he later passed on to his oldest daughter Tanya.
He spent time as a big game hunting guide for his brother-in-law Tom Wilson and for Duane Witte. Bill spent most of his time in the mountains camping, hunting and fishing, as he loved wildlife and could call a moose out of the backwoods every time he was out.
Bill started working away from home at a very early age, at Kaytors sawmill, West Fraser on Bald Mountain, Lignum’s Mill in Meldrum Creek. But when that closed down Bill moved to Williams Lake where he was the head saw filer for Bill Lambert for many years.
Bill met and married Marcella Bowe in 1968 and had two children Cory and Tanya as well as his adopted son Shayne Bowe. They made their home in Boweville and spent much time travelling to rodeo’s and going hunting and fishing.
Not very often was there not game hanging in the backyard at the Hutch’s. Family was very important to Bill and taking time to visit his mom and sisters in Kamloops to spend holidays or weekends together meant a great deal to him.
Bill was well known behind the chutes at the rodeos; always willing to help out the steer riders; setting them down and pulling ropes and then somehow still managing to jump in the arena to snap some pictures of the young riders. Then he was loading up the truck and headed off for the next rodeo.
After Bill and Marcella separated; Bill met Doreen Johnson of Alkali Lake and together they had three children Jonathan, Dawn and Ann. Bill taught his children many things from hunting to fishing, tying fly hooks, playing music, and bow hunting, and laughing.
Bill loved to laugh and joke and always seemed to have a joke to share or a comical life story to tell from his days of guiding, saw filing, fishing, drinking, or playing in the many different bands he was part of; or he’d tell of the many other things he experienced. He used to say he could weld anything in this world together but two things; a broken heart and the crack of dawn.
Bill faced a short battle with cancer and when he knew he was not able to over come his struggle he had the courage to start a new journey into the unknown.
His children Cory, Tanya, Johnny, Dawn, and Ann; as well as his partner Betty; sat with him to the very end; where he smiled softly and shared a laugh, and joked until he found his peace and slipped away Jan. 14, 2007 in Kelowna.
He will be missed by all who knew him....
Mahood, Francis Friday, 29 Dec 2006
Williams Lake, BC
Francis Raymond (Ray) Mahood passed away Dec. 29, 2006.
Ray was one of four sons and three daughters born to James and Elizabeth Mahood. He was born Dec. 19, 1923 and grew up in Chilliwack during the Great Depression.
Like many families, farming was a way of life. His father was the first forest ranger for the Lower Mainland and would go on to teach his sons the tools needed for a future in the forest industry.
At the age of 14 Ray decided to start coloring his father’s maps for fun.
When word of this got around a man from the B.C. Forest Service came to see him. From then on black and white maps became a thing of the past. Ray never heard from the man again but was forever proud of being the one to start the colorization of maps.
During the Second World War, Ray enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of 19 and trained in Armored Corps.
As a tank commander, he and his crew landed on the beaches of Normandy on the evening of D-Day, June 6, 1944.
They were transferred to a British unit to supply the crews of the self-propelled armored vehicles and provided an important role to the invasion.
Soon after they were released by the British Army and continued by tank throughout Normandy, helping other units. Thereafter he joined an elite team called the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
Ray served through to Holland where he became an aid to the regiments’ commander for their headquarters squadron. He was discharged in 1946 and returned home to Chilliwack.
While working as a forest ranger in Cultus Lake he met and married the love of his life with whom he would have nine children.
Throughout the 50s and 60s Ray not only started his own mapping company that was known all over Canada, but also had a family logging company that was successful for many years.
Over time he became specialized in photogramitry and was an experienced surveyor who was responsible for logging operations in B.C., Alberta and South America. Ray was sought after by many companies but was most interested in the jobs that would pose a challenge.
He was respected by all who met and worked with him.
Some of Ray’s other accomplishments were boxing, gymnastics, as well as building two of his own homes but, as an experienced pilot who owned two planes, he enjoyed flying the most.
In the 70s he moved his family to the community of North Shuswap where he was the owner/operator of a building supply store and the local postmaster, eventually moving to the coast for a number of years, then working his way to Williams Lake in 1986, and finishing his career as a consultant for a pulp and paper company.
Loving the countryside of the Cariboo, he retired to his cottage along with his canine friend of many years, where he would spend time enjoying reading and listening to music, overlooking his lake front property, with friends and family visiting often.
