Obituary of Ray Harriott
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ray Harriott, after a short stay in the Dawson Creek Hospital, on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Ray was born on August 27, 1934 at Barnes Crossing, Saskatchewan.
At a young age, Ray’s family gave him a nickname of “Fritz”. He answered to that name until he moved to Dawson Creek. To this day, his sister Marcella, and all his nieces and nephews still call him “Uncle Fritz”. He was the youngest in a large family and according to Marcella, who is 1 year older, he was spoiled by everyone and got to do what he wanted because he was the baby! This included an unhealthy habit of smoking, which he started at age 13! He did quit smoking 40 years later but by then the damage had been done.
At the age of 18, he met Joyce Belcher, when she worked for his parents. He thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen and a year later they were married. They lived in the Dorintosh Meadow Lake area for a few years before moving to B.C. Ray had heard from friends that there was work to be found in Dawson Creek. So Ray, Joyce and daughters Louella 5 years old, Marilyn 2 years old and baby Holly, 6 weeks old moved to Dawson Creek in 1960.
He chose a career as a truckdriver and enjoyed driving even though it meant he wasn’t home a lot. He started with Rempel Trail and ended with Van Genne Trucking some 40 years later. He was recognized as logging in over a million miles on the road, earning many safety awards over the years. If asked, he had many stories to share about what he had seen while driving the highway all those years. He never worried Joyce about bad accidents or bad weather, but she worried anyway. There were no cell phones back then so when he got home, they always had lots to discuss.
Every summer, he took Joyce and the girls on a holiday, mostly back to Meadow Lake to see family. As to be expected, the most asked question on those trips was how much further?? One trip that stands out was a trip to visit Joyce’s family on Vancouver Island. The trip where the brand-new puppy got left at a service station. Among many tears from the girls, he turned around, went back, and found the puppy still there. For the girls, this trip was very exciting as they got to see the ocean and go on a ferry ride! Very different than life in Dawson Creek.
Ray and Joyce loved the country life, including country music, dancing, and rodeos. When the girls were young, they packed up the truck and camper and hit most of the rodeos in the area. For about 10 years, they went to the Ponoka Stampede with Marilyn and Marty, reserving the same seats every year. They would go 4 days early to get the camping spot they wanted and then relaxed till the rodeo started.
They lived in a few different placers in the area over the years and finally moved to an acreage at Mile 8 on the Alaska Highway in 1978. They only moved back to town when health issues became a challenge for them in 2018.
They loved going to country dances with their friends when they were young, almost every Saturday night, if Ray wasn’t on a trip.
After retirement, they found another way to enjoy their love of dancing and country music. They started following old time country jamborees and were gone most weekends all summer long. They enjoyed old friends and made new friends as they all shared the love of old country music. Many evenings after the music ended, Ray and Joyce had a full house in the fifth wheel. Lots of laughter, pie and coffee or maybe something stronger for some!
Ray was a loving husband and partner to Joyce, sharing life’s ups and downs. Sadly, Joyce passed away in March 2021. So now Ray will be looking for her to have another dance and listen to the music.
His daughters remember him as kind and loving, encouraging them in whatever choices they made in their lives. Since he had no sons, he was especially happy to have son in-laws to help him with many different jobs over the years. There was always a spot on his knee for grandkids, or great grandkids to tell him a story.
He leaves to mourn his daughters Louella (Gary) Dokken, Marilyn (Marty) Wolfe, and Holly (Dillon) McNeely; grandchildren Ray Roth, Tamara and Kayle Christensen, Steve McNeely and Jamie Moat; great-grandchildren Ellie, Maiya, Hunter, Dillon, Aislee, Tamara, and Lacey. He will be loved and missed but never forgotten.
Thank you to all the caregivers at Northview that enriched his life and made it easier for him. Thank you to his buddy, Gerry, your friendship was special to him and kept him happy during the dark COVID days. Thank you to Dr Roux and the staff at the Hospital for taking such good care of him in his last couple weeks.
For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Ray to the BC Lung Association, 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 2K2.
Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Ray
Harriott 1934 2021..
reynars funeral home & crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Dawson, Province: Colombie britanique