Ralph Kenneth Irving Archer
June 7, 1920 – January 9, 2016
Ralph passed away peacefully at Powell River General Hospital at the age of 95. He is dearly missed by his wife Margaret and his daughter Christle. Ralph was predeceased by his mother Ethel, father William, brother Les and sister Joyce.
Ralph was born in Enderby, BC, but grew up in Vancouver. He first came to Powell River at the age of 13 to work at a logging camp in Okeover Inlet and returned for good soon after he became a government log scaler at 35.
Despite a major knee injury at 17, Ralph went on to become a black belt in Judo, a professional wrestler, a boxer, an instructor of bodybuilding and swimming, a longshoreman, an expeditor, a head boomman, an expert faller, an archer, a marksman, a circus roustabout working with elephants, a government scaler for 25 years and a world-record breaker doing one-finger chin-ups.
Ralph loved to learn, help and teach. He also loved to travel, the outdoors, building useful things out of wood, gardening, billiards, practising Cantonese, music and movies, playing chess and making friends, especially with animals.
Kind, loyal, generous and always ready with a smile and a joke, Ralph was the kind of person who thanked people when things were going right. He was honoured to lead Powell River Elks Lodge as Exalted Ruler, and spent 23 years helping children who were deaf or hard of hearing, and with anti-drug awareness programs.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, June 7, at 2 pm at Stubberfield Funeral Home, with a reception afterward. Please come and share your favourite stories and memories.
A special thank you to the paramedics, home support workers, nurses, doctors, and dear friends and neighbours for all of your care.
In lieu of flowers, in honour of Ralph’s many years volunteering, please donate in his memory, to Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon, 1.877.882.2582. Please send memorial cards to #310-4943 Kiwanis Avenue, Powell River, BC, V8A 5H5.
Mary Kathleen (Kay) Monsell née Butler
Mary Kathleen (Kay) Monsell, formerly of Powell River, passed away Monday, May 2, in Mission, BC.
Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, April 8,1921, Kay moved to Powell River with her parents Basil and Edna Butler, where she spent many wonderful years.
Kay met and married Delbert (Moose) Monsell and moved to Langley, BC, where she raised their four children.
After her husband passed away in April 1997, Kay returned to Powell River. She loved her condo and getting together with her friends to play cards. She eventually reconnected with her childhood boyfriend, Earl Whitley, and they became engaged.
In December of 2010, Kay moved to Mission to be closer to her son and daughter. In 2014, she moved into an extended-care facility.
Kay leaves behind her four children: Valla (Bob) Nairne, Richard (Brenda) Monsell, Miles (Charlotte) Monsell and Carolynne (Brian) Brownlee; grandchildren Jason (Michelle), Scott (Alysa), Clayton (Danine), Matthew (Brooke), Adam (Kora), Stephen (Robyn) and Kevin (Kate); 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; her brother Vernon (Shirley) Butler; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Kay was predeceased by her husband Delbert, her fiancé Earl, her brothers Glen, Jack and Bruce Butler, her parents Basil and Edna (Dolly) and several dear friends.
A celebration of Kay’s life will be held at the Laughing Oyster (Okeover Arm) on Tuesday, July 19, at 1 pm.
Dorothy “Dot” Robertson
Surrounded by her loving family Dorothy peacefully passed away at Powell River General Hospital May 18, 2016.
Dorothy was born in Crystal City, Manitoba, on February 4, 1928. She was predeceased by her husband Hugh, daughter Dianne, son Delmer and sister Doreen. She is survived by her daughters Carole (John Andersen), Betty and Darlene (Walter Gussman) and Vicki (Steve Warman), sons Bill (Stacy), Dean (Lara) and Dale (Carol), 26 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to Dr. Black, Roxanne, Dr. Addison, and the fourth floor nurses and all the Texada Island home-support workers.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
When I look at my hands, I see my mother’s hands and all that they stood for.
Idabelle Josephine Rumley
December 25, 1924 – May 19, 2016
Ida passed peacefully in her 91st year.
She was predeceased by her husband Russell and sons Lawrence and Gary (Patty).
Ida is survived by her loving children George (Marie), Pat (Ron), Glen (Theresa) and Gene (Lee), grandchildren Traci (Brook), Nicole (Dan), Jason (Tara), Dustin (Ally), Dylan, Olivia, Dallas and Chandra, great-grandchildren Seth, Tanner, Jason, Breen and Jagger and her sister Marcy. She will also be greatly missed by her large extended family of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Ida’s doctors and fourth floor staff at Powell River General Hospital for all their caring attention.
Prayers will be held at 7 pm Thursday, June 2, at Church of the Assumption. Funeral service to be held at 1 pm Friday, June 3, also at Church of the Assumption, followed by refreshments in St. Joseph’s Hall.