Richard Gray Johns
June 19, 1928 – Nov. 28, 2021
An Anglican Priest, enthusiast of classical music, the symphony, local stage and New York City Broadway productions. Richard also loved power boating, great wine and travelling the world with his children and late wife, ‘partner in adventure’, Yvonne.
Yvonne met Richard 65 years ago when she was a parishioner at his first Church as ‘Priest in Charge’ in California. Together they spent years with their 4 children as Richard fulfilled a calling to parishes in Nicaragua and Guatemala; the most wonderful years for them both as they grew to love the Latin American culture and especially its people.
The family then moved to Manhattan where Richard spent 8 years at the head office of the Episcopal Church, until he and Yvonne moved to Toronto to what would end up being 30 years at Church House as Director of Personnel for the Anglican Church of Canada.
Richard and Yvonne loved their weekends at Lake Simcoe navigating the Ontario Locks, and their greatest joy … becoming Canadian Citizens.
After retirement, the familiarity of the West Coast, Salt Spring Island and All Saints by-the-Sea in Ganges was where they knew they wanted to call HOME. Boating … a home with ocean views, wonderful friendships, seafood, visits from friends, grown children, grand children, and great grand children became the main stay until Yvonne passed away and Richard moved to Vancouver to be closer to family.
Sadly, Richard has left us after a year in long term care in West Vancouver, but those who knew him well will remember his extraordinary ability as a ‘story teller’, sharing funny and heartfelt stories of people and travels from his ‘life well lived’.
A memorial service for Richard’s Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, April 2, 2022 10:30am-1:00pm.