Michael Eric Spittlehouse Parker

Nov 29, 1942 – April 2, 2017

It is said that only the good die young. Michael was truly a good man who adored his wife Gillian and daughter Natalie, was the consummate brother to sister, Lynne, uncle to Megan and a stalwart son to mother, Marionne. He had many friends whom he loved. Warm, kind, generous, smiling and positive he was always there for support or to help out wherever and whenever he could. He loved fixing things and was always busy with something around the house – washing and maintaining the cars, at Natalie’s fixing things or helping her out one way or another, power-washing the neighbours’ homes or lending a hand to somebody else!

Michael was born in England near Liverpool and immigrated to Canada with his family in the mid fifties- initially living in Victoria before moving to Vancouver where he attended Kits High School. After graduation he was in the Canadian Air Force for 5 years (it amused him to say that he was in the air force when he was not even a Canadian citizen) then returned to Vancouver to work for BC Tel in their microwave dept. It was during this time in 1967, that he met his future wife, Gillian.

Always a forward thinker Michael decided the regular 9 to 5 life was not for him and he became a stockbroker, had his own mining company for a while and during that time married Gillian in 1972. Over the next decades, never one to become complacent, Michael pursued a number of different paths including real estate appraiser and developer. He really enjoyed his time working with a very creative architect and friend in the development of a condo project in Seattle. He was a partner in an innovative high tech company; a business consultant for many years and among other pursuits, had an interest in a project in Costa Rica.

Perhaps the project that he enjoyed the most during his varied career and was the most proud of, was his role as part of the City of Vancouvers’4-man team that coordinated the development of the south shore of False Creek in the 70’s, where he and his family subsequently lived for 20 years.

The other side of Michael was the party person. He loved to be social and entertain: from the early days of wing-ding parties in his Mums’ house on Dunbar Street to the dinner parties with friends, BBQs on the patio, jamming at the Morrison’s and Christmas time gatherings for friends and family- he so enjoyed surrounding himself with the special people in his life.

Throughout his life Michael was always there- ready to help others- no matter what was needed. He was the rock of our family and will be missed so very much and remembered forever with love.

Til we meet again.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, Vancouver, BC.