Ross Dever Styles

During his life Ross had many roles, many ideas, and touched many people through his diverse career paths, interests and activities. Born in Prince George as the sixth child of Clara and Eddy Styles, his curious mind and adventuresome spirit lead to varied life experiences spanning house building, hardware store ownership, industrial education teacher, counsellor and reforestation contractor. Ross had a deep affinity with nature spawning recreational pursuit of hiking, canoeing, photography, and skiing and also afforded the motivation for his career involvement in silviculture. He was also a forward and liberal-thinking person, genuinely caring about all people, and embracing diversity in all its forms.

Later in life Ross had an extensive intellectual journey of reading, dialogue and integration of religion, philosophy, physics, and holistic systems in pursuit of distilling a new unified approach to living in harmony and stewardship with Nature. As a part of this, he mentored a local environmental thinktank and lead the movement for Kamloops to become a Blue Dot community (David Suzuki Foundation) at the age of 87. A classic archetypal teacher, Ross loved to capture every teachable moment and took advantage of this to his last day.

With his wife Daphne of fifty four years they raised three children, and had the joy of three grandchildren with whom they were very connected. Travel was a priority, the style of which varied from local hiking and tenting to significant international travel, always learning along the way to deepen his understanding of culture and natural history.

In recent years his partner Donna brough much additional joy and companionship, and he valued this relationship deeply.

Ross established a Foundation Fund at Kamloops United Church (KUC) to promote the teachings of Thomas Berry that focuses on harmonizing the relationship between humans, the earth and its diverse life forms in order to find a new sustainable way into the future. No memorial service by request. Donations can be made to this fund in lieu of flowers. KUC address: 421 St Paul St, Kamloops, BC V2C 2J7 or phone 250-372-3020.