DAVIES, Roy

Roy Sandwell Davies died peacefully at his home on Galiano Island on November 9th, 2018 surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Loraine, daughter Joyce (Steve),son Kevin grandchildren Ryan (Sarah) and Jason (Megan), great- grandchild Emma and Erin, sister Joan and brother John (Denise), nephew Nalin and niece Caroline and many friends and colleagues.

Roy Davies was born in 1936 at his home in Burnaby to two humanists, George Davies and Caroline Davies, two of the many poor immigrants who arrived in Canada from Great Britain in the early 1900s.

Roy began his years as a firefighter in 1955 in his hometown of Burnaby where he volunteered as a firefighter with the civil defence. Roy signed on as a full time firefighter with Burnaby on July 6, 1958, one week after marrying Loraine! He spent more than 37 years as a career firefighter in Burnaby, during the last three years of Roy’s career, he took on a very active role in developing the Marine Division, and was involved in the training of personnel, and working alongside with the various municipalities involved, during this time Roy took many Coast Guard courses. This project was very important to Roy and he gave it his undivided attention during the process. Roy spent the latter years as Assistant Fire Chief retiring on March 31, 1995.

Roy retired from the Burnaby department in 1995 and shortly after Roy and Loraine moved to Galiano Island where he was immediately approached by the South Galiano Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Chester Williams. Within minutes Roy was their newest member. He stayed on with the island department until 2015. Roy received his 50 year exemplary service medal which is an amazing achievement for a firefighter, and continued on until 2015 making his career as a firefighter an astonishing 60 year span.

Roy and Loraine loved their years on Galiano. Both enjoyed countless hours of playing bridge and playing golf and spending time with so many friends. It was a good retirement.

Roy was very grateful for the much-needed help he received from two firefighter friends who helped him navigate WorkSafe BC after his cancer diagnosis. He also wanted to express his sincere gratitude to Dr. Carlson, Dr. Whynot, Simone, Pam, Angela, Jessica and everyone at the Galiano Health Care Center, and to Dr. Stephanie Green, for their kindness and professionalism. They were instrumental in his care and his comfort and were also a great help to Loraine. Also to Palliative Care of Royal Jubilee.

In gathering the information to write Dad’s obituary, it became clear that he was very well thought of, comments like: highly thought of for leadership, humble, always available to give guidance and mentorship, a calm demeanor. While these are wonderful to hear, we just knew him as “Dad”, we heard the funny stories from his days of working, recall the sad times after a hard callout, when he would take the family dog and walk Central Park for hours, this is where

he would go for comfort, he knew the trails like the back of his hand, of course, because he helped his father build them.

Your “last callout” Dad, done with grace and dignity, Rest in Peace Dad, Celebration of Life planned on Roy’s Birthday, Aug 21, 2019