PARK, Carol JuliaLangley, BC. In loving memory, Carol who, with family by her side, passed away after a lengthy battle with breast cancer on the 26th of September. Carol is survived by her husband Gene of 45 years; her children, Susie Gallagher (Peter), Roy Park (Jody) and Bud Park (Susan); her 7 beautiful granddaughters, Julia, Kassidy, Kansas Gallagher; Avery, Hannah Park; Laura, Anna Park and her loving brother Don Warrington. Carol followed her passion for horses to BC from Ontario at the age of 17. Her love of family, friends and animals was a constant thread throughout her life. Grandma has passed her love of horses to all of her granddaughters. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Carol's name to the Circle F Horse Rescue Society. PO Box 73, STN Main, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6Z4. www.circlef.ca . A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 1st at 1PM at Henderson's Langley Funeral Home, 20786 Fraser HWY. in Langley. After the service, coffee and tea will be served at Carol and Gene's home in Glen Valley, 8045-252nd. St., Langley from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m..
Carol was born November 17, 1945 in Toronto, ON. Horses and animals were a passion of hers from the time she was little. The books she read growing up in Ontario were of horses and the western way. Her loving parents, Jack and Muriel, had her and her younger brother Don, spending summers water skiing at Boshkung Lake, winters in Jamaica and the spring snow skiing in Switzerland. However, her love of horses and adventure never waivered and at the age of sixteen she convinced her parents that the west was where she wanted to go.
Carol showed up in the Cariboo during the summer of 1961. With her dress shoes on, she climbed on her first horse at Pollard’s Guest ranch. Her soul was in the Cariboo. She had found the place she wanted to be. On Carol’s third trip back to the guest ranch she met her future husband Gene, a wrangler at the guest ranch. They were married in Vancouver in 1965. Gene and Carol started their life together on a 10,000 acre cattle ranch near Clinton called the OK. During their seven years at the ranch, they had three children; Susie, Roy and Bud.
The ranching life was not easy. Carol had come from the big city of Toronto, where water came from the tap and electricity was a light switch away. She loved the lifestyle and was quick to give everyone a warm smile and a laugh. After the OK ranch, Gene and Carol settled in Williams Lake and over the next 25 years, raised their kids and rodeoed. Carol believed in giving and volunteered with many different associations while in Williams Lake. She was a driving force behind the successful Interior Rodeo Association which later merged and became the BC Rodeo Association. An avid competitor, Carol was often at the top of the leader board during her rodeo career. From allround cow girl to barrel racing champion, she achieved many rodeo successes.
In 1994, after her children had grown, her father, Jack, became ill. Always one to give, she and Gene sold their fifty-six acre ranch in Williams Lake, packed up their horses, dogs and cats, said good bye to their friends and traveled east to be with her Mom and Dad. From 1994 to 2005, Gene and Carol lived in Sutton, ON. Carol, as with her entire life, was quick to form
lasting friendships. It was during her time in Ontario, Carol started giving riding lessons and sharing her love of horses with her students and ever growing number of granddaughters. Also during this time, Carol was first diagnosed with breast cancer. As with other challenges in her life, it was Carol’s determination that help her through this difficult time.
In October 2004, Carol and Gene, longing to be back in BC, packed up their horses, dogs and cats, said good-bye to the wonderful friends they made and again moved across the country, settling on a property in North Langley. From 2005 until today, Carol continued her lessons, spent summers teaching her seven granddaughters how to ride and challenged herself with team penning and cattle play. She was a wife, sister, mom, a best friend to many and will be missed by all.
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