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In Memory of Gerald Stevens

With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to Gerry who passed away on September 14, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Gerry was born on July 3, 1940 in Winnipeg, MB where he lived and worked until retirement in 2000. Always seeking a better opportunity for his family, Gerry attended night school, achieving his CPA designation while his kids were still young.

Times were lean in the early years but they managed to scrape together enough money to buy a small trailer to take the family camping, creating some of our best family memories. Gerry’s infinite patience can be the only explanation for how we managed to survive in that trailer for 6 weeks, driving down to California and then up the coast to B.C. The next summer, the trailer was upgraded to one with separate beds for the kids and indoor plumbing. When the kids became teenagers they parked the trailer at Beauty Bay in Lake of the Woods for a few years.

Retirement plans included selling their condo in Winnipeg and purchasing a 5th Wheel. They were fortunate to see most parts of Canada and the U.S. before settling down in the beautiful, sunny Okanagan. Kelowna was the perfect location and they built a home overlooking Duck Lake in Holiday Park, truly living the ‘Sweetlife’. They enjoyed many evenings entertaining and sitting out on their deck watching the heron, osprey, ducks and many other birds go by.

Gerry loved to golf and played a mean hand of bridge. Young at heart, one of his favorite activities was to play cards and games with his grandchildren, complete with rhyming sayings for each score in crib. In the winter, Gerry and Judy spent time down south in Mesa, AZ or Palm Springs, CA visiting, golfing and touring with their friends.

He leaves behind his wife and best friend of 54 years, Judy, his son Grant (Joyce) and his daughters Nora (Marty) and Sharon (Jeff). Missing him greatly are his grandchildren, Mitch, Maddi, Scott, Nick, Mary and Ava; also Austyn, Carter and Elyse. Gerry will be sadly missed by his sister Lynne (Jack), his nieces and nephews and his many friends.

Gerry was predeceased by his parents, Buntty and Brownie and his brother Donald.

Gerry was the eternal optimist and although he was in constant pain and his body was failing him, he was always hopeful that tomorrow would be a better day. We would like to thank Dr. Finch and the nurses and staff at the BC Cancer Agency for their care and compassion shown to him over the past few years.

As per Gerry's wishes there will not be a funeral, however please join us as we remember Gerry at the Golf Course Roundhouse in Holiday Park Resort on Saturday September 19 at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the BC Cancer Foundation http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/geraldstevens