Allen Donald Coombes

It is with great sadness that the family of Al Coombes announces his passing on July 3, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Jillian (Jill), and his 4 children from his first marriage to Charlotte, Andrea (Keith) Murray, Donald (Kristie), Douglas, and David (Susan). 6 grandchildren, Barbara, Brian and Heather Murray, and Alyck, Katelin and Ben Coombes. Step-grandson Martin Schmidt; 4 great-grandchildren, Lars, Norris, Elowyn, and Bishop.

He was born and raised in Rossland, BC, the only son of Archie Coombes and Erna Schneider. He skied, played trumpet in the Salvation Army band, and learned to value hard work and education.

He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1956 with a degree in Forestry and obtained a Master's in Engineering from Oregon State in 1958. His career in Forestry took him from his home in the Kootenays to Prince George, Kamloops, Bathurst NB, Williams Lake, and finally, as a Vice President with Weldwood Canada, to Vancouver. He loved logging equipment, timber cruising, estimating the AAC, and talking lumber or plywood. He never lost interest in the issues facing the industry or tired of meeting old companions.

After retirement, he and Jill traveled the world for almost 20 years, returning home with many stories, lots of photos, and new friends.

We are incredibly proud of this cheerful, intelligent man that taught us so much about how life should be lived until his last breath. He was renowned for his love of beautiful gardens, passion for knowledge, and an enduring love of music, especially Dixieland Jazz. He could relate to anyone, young or old, and could always find time for conversations with strangers. He rated meeting Louis Armstrong higher than meeting Prime Ministers.

We loved his confidence in his ability to fix or create things. He embraced a wide variety of successful projects over the years, always accompanied by CBC radio playing in the background and scattered coffee cups.

We wish to thank the incredible staff at Hollyburn House for the compassion and care they provided during his short stay there.

Allen requested that his ashes be scattered under a Douglas Fir (not a Hemlock) in Lighthouse Park.

Due to limited space, the service for Allen will be a private celebration. We would love to have your stories and thoughts added to the website.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hollyburnfunerals.com for the Coombes family.