DOROTHY MELLISSA HEATH 

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Dorothy (Dot) Heath, at the Lady Minto Hospital, after a lengthy battle with cancer on June 1, 2017.

Left to cherish her memory is her beloved husband Alan of 52 years; son Craig Simpson (Julia) of Mississauga, Ontario; Grandsons Curtis Simpson (Tanya) of Katy, Texas and Brent Simpson of Milton, Ontario; Great Granddaughter Kayla Simpson of Katy, Texas. She was predeceased by her parents Alfred and Irma Adams; sisters Lillian and Helen and brothers Frank, Bill, John, Stephen, Arthur and Ernie and her husband Alexander (Sandy) Simpson.

Dorothy was born in Winnipeg and moved to B.C. with husband Alan in 1978. Upon retiring in 1991 Dorothy and Alan relocated to Salt Spring Island.

Dorothy and Alan travelled extensively after retiring. She loved her gardening and would spend time regularly in her greenhouse, strawberry and raspberry beds. 

As per her wishes, no funeral service will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salt Spring Conservancy or the David Suzuki Foundation.

Special thanks to Dr. Crichton and the palliative care staff and volunteers at Lady Minto.

Online condolences to be made at: www.haywardsfuneral.com 250-537-1022

Dennis (Denny) Thomas

February 11, 1931 – May 27, 2017

With heavy hearts, we tell you that good and gentle Denny has left us after a long journey with heart disease.  He bore his illness with patience and dignity and was very ready to leave his body. 

He is survived by his wife Rita, five children, eight grandchildren and one great grandson who brought him special joy.

Denny retired as a senior executive from Federated Coop in Saskatoon after 39 years of service.  He and Rita moved to Salt Spring in 1991, creating their nest on the hill, and have enjoyed every second.

He was an accomplished athlete and talented musician.  Denny had a passion for helping special people, establishing and leading rhythm bands for two decades in Saskatoon and Salt Spring.   For a number of years, he offered music lessons to young people on the Island.

His family want to thank Dr. Ron Reznick and his staff for faithful friendship and care.

Funeral will take place at Salt Spring United Church on Friday, June 2nd at 1 pm.

If you wish to make a donation in his honour, please consider the Salt Spring Foundation or Lady Minto Hospital.

Robert (Bob) Davidson

May 7, 1942 – May 26, 2017

After getting a terminal cancer diagnosis, Robert (Bob) Bruce Davidson died peacefully on his own terms in Vancouver on May 26, 2017 surrounded by his immediate family.

Bob was born May 7, 1942 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He lost both his parents as a youth and finished high school in Guelph. He graduated from Carleton University in 1965 where he met Pat, his wife of 51 years who was his emotional ballast and lifelong equal partner. They spent their first 23 years just outside Edmonton raising three daughters as Bob toiled as a curator at the Provincial Museum of Alberta until he chose to quit at the age of 44 to lead a simpler and more purposeful life.

Bob and Pat escaped to the West Coast, eventually settling on Salt Spring Island in 1992. He was an avid photographer, contemplative kayaker, erstwhile gardener, and voracious reader of literary works. Island life and the subsequent arrival of his grandchildren softened his sometimes cynical edges as he struggled with the decline of decency in the world, and lamented the impending environmental crisis. Bob will be remembered for his irreverence for social convention, and his remarkable intellect and integrity that led to a lifelong interest in politics, the public good, and critical thought. He instilled in others an ethos of care, generosity, and a desire to leave the world a better place than they found it.

Bob is survived by his wife Patricia, daughters Judy (Toni Harris), Michelle, Laurie (Shree Paranjpe), grandchildren Asha and Kieran, and his sister Sandra Evelyn (Trevor). He is predeceased by his daughter in-law Sharon Rosenberg.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the David Suzuki Foundation.

Please join us at Pat and Bob’s home at 347 Roland Road, Salt Spring Island on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 2:30 pm to share your remembrances of Bob.

March 14, 1948 to April 23, 2015

It has taken me two years to accept that Gary is not about to walk in our door! We were like a young boy and a little girl holding hands; finding our way through the maze of life.

Gary Brian Allison, part-time resident of Salt Spring Island and long-time resident of Virginia Beach, passed away on April 23, 2015.

Gary grew up in Akron, Ohio, where he attended the University of Akron and received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1974. Gary spent over forty years practicing law in a variety of areas; family law and adoption being the most rewarding for him.

Gary was a great lawyer, he was also a great teacher. He will be remembered for his playful nature, humour, athleticism, love of yoga, his passion for travel, learning, nature, and hiking. During the last few years, Gary divided his time between Virginia Beach and Salt Spring Island. On Salt Spring Gary had begun to create a network of friends. He would have loved to have spent many more years here.

Gary is survived by his immediate family: wife, Cornelia Krikke, son Kevin and sister Andrea. No one can replace Gary. We love and miss him. For those who came to know Gary, there will be a celebration in early July.

Margaret, long-time resident of Salt Spring Island, died on Good Friday, April 14, 2017, at Greenwoods on Salt Spring Island. Margaret passed peacefully in the company of loving family. She was 11 days shy of her 86th birthday.

Margaret was active socially in many community and church organizations, both during her many years in Victoria and after she moved to her beloved Salt Spring Island in 1980. She thrived on teaching, painting, music, crafts, and literature.

She is predeceased by the love of her life, James, and is survived by her five children, Joan (Lee), Barbara (Joe), Paul (JoAnne), Sandy (Sandra), and Michelle (Jeff), 13 grandchildren, and 9 greatgrandchildren.

A celebration of life and interment for Margaret will be held at St Paul’s Church in Fulford, July 22nd, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greenwoods Elder Care Society or to the Salt Spring Hospice. Please come and sign a guest book and find donation information at http://www.haywardsfuneral.com

Mary Gail (Pike) Smith

It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Gail (Pike) Smith at 11:55 am on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Gail left us peacefully, in her own home surrounded by family.

Gail was born in Vancouver General Hospital on September 28, 1942 to parents Al and Mary Pike. She spent her youth between Revelstoke, Vancouver and the Yukon.

Gail married Alexander David (Sandy) Smith on June 27, 1970 and they had two daughters, Jennifer Shaw and Fiona Ooi. After spending their family’s early years in Scotland they moved to Salt Spring in 1980 and eventually on to Vancouver.

Gail impacted many lives through her volunteer work as a Girl Guide leader, a home economic teacher and a cheerleader for her daughter’s Ringette team.

Gail is survived by her husband and her two daughters.

At Gail’s request, no service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the The Kidney Foundation of Canada or St. Paul’s Foundation.

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Berna, who passed away at the age of 74 following a sudden illness. She will be fondly missed by her children Patrick (Stephanie) and Alison (Andrew); grandchildren Claire, Brianna, Ryan and Charlotte; sister Pam and brother Warren (Jane). She was predeceased by her husband Arthur; parents, Lyle and Colinette, and infant brother, Robert.

Berna was born and raised in Montreal. As a young adult she moved to Vancouver where she worked and obtained her Commerce Degree.  After she met her husband Art, she moved to a farm on Saltspring Island where she raised her children. Following this, she pursued a career in healthcare after graduating from the University of Victoria with her Nursing Degree. Eventually she moved to Saanichton where she spent the last 15 years of her career working as the Cardiac Care Coordinator at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, a position she loved and excelled at. Following her recent retirement, she moved to Langley to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

A memorial service will held for Berna on Saturday, May 27 from 1 to 3 pm at the Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Drive in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please consider volunteering at or making a donation to a hospice care facility in your local community.

Joseph Brian McIninch MD

1944 – 2017

On April 7, Brian died in Lady Minto Hospital of cancer related causes.

Loving spouse of Fran, devoted father of Ayla and attentive grandfather of Codi and Uma, Brian will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Brian was also a loving brother to Margo McGee (John) in Edmonton and Jim McIninch (Mary) in Ottawa.

His deep love of learning, music and poetry, his kind, thoughtful and calm personality, his intelligence and playfulness endeared him to us all. His strength, courage, resilience and even humor through all the chemo, radiation and endless scans were impressive. We shall always carry his memory in our hearts.

Memorial donations can be made to the Green Party of Canada or Doctors without Borders. Condolences may be made at www.haywardsfuneral.com. ?

John Radcliffe McMahon

Feb 23 1921/Apr 4 2017

Papa John, Jack, Paddy Mac, Krafty John took his last flight after a very amazing & long life. John was born in Belfast where he met his beloved Margaret Alice McAdam. They started their life journey together he at 14, she 13. They were later engaged then John joined the RAF in 1940 where he served with the 49th Squadron as a flight engineer on Lancaster Bombers. His plane was shot down February 2 1943, he remained the only survivor of his crew, parachuting safely to end up a POW in Stalag VIIIB on the Polish Russian border til the war was ending. He then survived the long and harrowing “death march” when so many perished. John married Alice in Belfast, emigrated to Canada in 1952 with 5 yr old daughter Margaret. The family, now with son Jim, lived in Edmonton, Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George ending up in Nanaimo in 1958 until John’s retirement of his long career with Kraft Foods. He made friends everywhere while travelling selling his Kraft Products. He moved to SSI in 1995 where he was a long time familiar face at the Saturday market selling his book on his war memoirs “Almost a Lifetime”. He was a ray of sunshine to everyone who met and knew him. His sweet smile and glint in his eye will be dearly missed. John is predeceased by his wife Alice. Survived by daughter Maggie Smith (Ron), son Jim (Anne Garneau), grandson Darren MacRae (Angie) & great grand children Emma & Jackson, sister Kathleen (Billy) in Belfast. Extended family in the UK, N Ireland, USA, Australia, NZ. Many thanks to his incredible team, Dr. Beaver, the amazing loving staff at Greenwoods, the angels at Hospice. Celebration of life is Wed 19 Apr, 2 – 4:30pm upstairs @ The Royal Canadian Legion, 120 Blain Rd., SSI. Bring a story, a poem, a song, a smile. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the Greenwoods Foundation.