Harlow Fell died at age 94 on November 1, 2010 in Campbell River Hospital.
Right after Dad was gone, one of us said “He was a grand old man”. His wife of 66 years, Jackie, suddenly brightened and, with a twinkle in her eye, responded “He was a grand young man!”
As well as his wife, Jackie, he is survived by: children, Bruce Fell, Lauren Wagner, and Lesley Fell, grandchildren, Janice Evans, Harlow Wagner, Jaie Skalin, and Duncan Fell, great-grandchildren, Kathryn and Rachael Vey and Joshua and Aaron Wagner.
Dad was born in 1915 on a horse-powered farm in southern Ontario, started working at age 12 in the Great Depression, and served in the Navy on the minesweeper St. Boniface in the North Atlantic in WW II. He brought us to Campbell River in 1956 seeking a better life for all of us. He worked at Elk Falls Mill for 20 years, retiring as Maintenance Foreman in 1977. In his early years at the mill he used his “spare” time to build our house, starting by excavating the basement through hardpan clay with a pick and shovel.
In retirement, fishing and hunting gradually gave way to golf, which Dad took up at age 70. He loved the game and by all accounts did himself proud on the golf course. The ultimate recycler, Dad could always find a way to resurrect or repurpose any broken object. He could improvise a solution to any problem, if only through sheer, stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
Dad was honourable, honest to a fault, generous and devoted to his family, especially to his wife, Jackie, the centre of his universe. He was fun and, in his own way, under an unassuming exterior, he was a colourful character. As a young married sailor, he had supplemented meagre pay by playing pool and poker for cash. Long before the era of 4x4 vehicles, he fearlessly drove over rickety trestles and ancient logging roads where no sane person would go, kids and wife terrified, but somehow knowing he would bring us all home safely.
We are enormously grateful to Dr. Carswell and the nursing staff on 3 North for their exceptional care and kindness to the whole family. Thanks also to Mom’s caregivers.
He deserves his rest. We will love him and keep him in our hearts always.
No service will be held. Condolences may be sent to: zephyr52@shaw.ca (daughter Lesley) or Mrs. Jackie Fell, 1790 Highland Rd, V9W 4E6