Good Old Memories

I met your Dad in early 1959. We had just moved from Chilliwack to Mission, to work for C.F.P.  Both of us were newly married and poor as church mice. We seemed to click. We like the same things. We spent countless hours fishing in Dewdney slough. On one occasion we even used a CIL wobbler (dynamite) as bait!! That scared us silly as we thought we were going to blow up the pump house! Great was our disappointment when all we got out of that valiant endeavor was a pile of suckers and squaw fish. When we weren't fishing we were hunting pheasants and ducks; your dad, his dog Patsy and I. We needed food for the table and shared what we shot. We got our first deer up Suicide Creek. We were so happy to have such a good supply of meat for the winter.

At that time in the industry we used wooden spar trees and your father and I worked together on the bull gang; rigging. He would send up the blocks and guy lines while I was up the tree. Your dad and I watched the arrival of the first steel spar. Very new we said. That won't last. First good pull and it will fall apart! We were wrong.

About 2 years later your dad went to work for Blackstocks. There he got hit by a log and landed up in the hospital. He was worried about not having a supply of meat for the winter, so when he got out of the hospital but still in a weakened condition, we went hunting! We got a nice little spiked buck. He was so pleased.

We later moved back to Chilliwack and then to Kitimat but always kept in touch and remained friends. In 1970 Wellspar Logging purchased a new Madill steel tower. I knew your dad was running yarder down at the coast where the work seasons were short and thought that he might consider a mover north. I was glad that after he checked out the situation he agreed to come. We logged a lot of memories there, many of which you are aware of. Later he got a good offer from Eurocan where he stayed for the duration of his time in Kitimat and we moved on but stayed good friends through all the years.

We had the opportunity to travel to Australia with Judy and Dennis and Dennis wouldn't drive as it was opposite to Canada.  Any time I wondered a bit he never said a word but he would just motion with his thumb for me to get over.  When we went on a wine tour Judy would count how many wine I had and politely suggest that I ha enough.  We stopped at a old logging show which was very interesting but what I remember most was Dennis standing in front of a bakery's counter and he was drooling over the baking.  Sharon and I will really miss meeting Dennis either ar Chilliwack airport for lunch or at different restaurants in Mission where he would reminesse times in Kitimat and give us the lowdown on all the grandkids who he thought the world of.  We are so sorry that we can't be there but will thinking of your families Diane and Steve.

I was really disappointed to hear about Uncle Dennis's passing he was always very kind to me and was one of my favorites  I can still remember as a young kid hearing that Uncle Dennis and Auntie Jude were coming down from Kitimat for Christmas , the "Truck Loggers" or just for a visit.  I knew that meant there would be a rented Caddy or big Lincoln and Uncle D would be telling all his logging, fishing and hunting stories and I could sit and listen till my hearts content.  It always intrigued me that you could drive down a logging road in the middle of winter with snow pouring over the hood of the truck and not get stuck.  Man though, you sure had to have Yokohama or Toyo tires, thats all West Fraser bought,lol.  Took those brand new tires off those Fords and put on Yokohama or Toyos.  He was alway a sharp dressed guy too with a nice watch and nice clothes, always put together.  Everybody always knew him to have nice things and be a bit of a neat freak and hey I don't think thats half bad. I think I try to have a little bit of that to rub off on me.

I hadn't really seen Uncle D for quite sometime and I was saddened that we didn't get to all meet up on Christmas Eve coffee.  However knowing the man he was I know he never wanted to not be at his best so I can surely respect that he wouldn't  want to come. He always had a memory like a steel trap he could always remember a name or a place or a time, even from 1954. I always admired that about him.   I know he hadn't really been well for sometime but I hope that his worst times were just before he passed and didn't have a lot suffering. 

Anyway I hope you guys are doing as best as can be expected, we are all thinking of you guys in this time.  I'm sure Dennis and Jude will have lots to catching up to do and I'm sure he will give her a big hello from all of us.

Thinking of you guys.

RIP uncle Dennis. Always in our hearts xoxo

Keeping you, Dennis RIP and all your beloved family in our prayers now and always.  Sending warm, affectionate thoughts and wishes from all the Devery family in Ireland.

OBITUARY

Dennis Reginald Skipper

4 May, 1938 – 12 January, 2016

Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home

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