Tribute

DONALD FREDERICK SPARREY

Born in Toronto, October 17, 1942.

Due to his father being in the Cdn. Air Force at that time, they moved to Comox, B.C.. They moved back to Toronto, living in and Don attending school in Leaside.  Don had 1 sister, Anne and two brothers, Norman and David.  After school Don drove the parts truck for Lippsett Auto Supply Company for 1 year then became parts manager at Allatt Tractor Company, both in Toronto.

Don married Gail in 1963, their son, Jim, born in 1968 and soon after they bought a 1 bedroom cottage at, and moved to Big Bay Point, Ontario, working as parts manager at Canadian Tire.

In 1972 Don branched out in to his own cottage maintenance company, Du-Rite Service, working strictly in the Big Bay Point area, repairing, renovating and maintaining anything from and including the basement to roof plus seadoos, snowmobiles and boats, also operating a ‘winter watch’ programme.

The marriage broke up in 1974, divorced in 1976.  Don met Chris in September 1975, had a hole dug behind the cottage in April 1976 and built it into a 4-bedroom back-split house with Don doing most of the work, including the design, plumbing and electrical work.  He did involve all of the immediate family, including son Jim, Chris, daughters Sharon, Cory,  and even Chris’s mother!!  The move in to the new house was December 1976 then Don and Chris were married February 1977, honeymooning in Hawaii where they returned 19 times.   Don and Chris were at Big Bay Point when daughters Sharon & Cory were married then the births and early years of the 4 eldest granddaughters, spending wonderful summer visits with them.

The house was sold and a new one purchased, moving to Arbutus Ridge on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 2000.  Don immediately became a member of the Civil Works Committee, a member of the wood shop and was scrutinizer at annual general meetings for a few years.

Don and Chris joined the Wine Club and Ramblers, soon becoming Ramblers leaders.  Don also became a driver for cancer appointments via The Canadian Cancer Society, later via the Freemasons.  Soon after moving to Arbutus Ridge his handyman experience led to a minor version of Du-Rite Service, just within Arbutus Ridge, mostly for shutting down sprinkler systems then turning them on in the spring and any odd repairs.  He also answered calls for odd repairs around the houses.

At St. John The Baptist Anglican Church, Cobble Hill, Don and Chris were greeters, part of the fellowship team serving coffee and providing cookies, etc. after church.  Don also handling minor repairs there.  Since 2022 Don and Chris have also attended Church of The Advent in Langford.

Since moving west,  visits to Ontario have been taken each year to visit Sharon and Cory plus granddaughters Neena, Amber, Rachael and Jessica, great grandsons Caleb, Evan and Jackson plus great granddaughter Elizabeth.  Also each year included a visit to Airdrie Alberta with Son Jim, granddaughters Breanna, Aislynn, and Shevaun then attending the marriage of Jim and his second wife, Samantha thus gaining us 2 more grandsons, Nick and Riley.

From the beginning of the marriage, off-spring Sharon, Cory and Jim have been our daughters and son, all of the grand and great children, ours.

Don and Chris have enjoyed cruising to different parts of this wonderful world and spent 2 winter months many times in California.

Don suffered for some time with emphysema and finally lost that battle on November 2, 2024 to begin his journey to heaven, being so missed by Chris, all of the family and so many good friends. He leaves behind his immediate family Chris, Sharon & Paul, Cory, Jim & Samantha, Neena & Rob, Amber, Rachael & Shaun, Jessica, Breanna, Aislynn, Shevaun, Riley, Nick, Caleb, Evan, Jackson and Elizabeth plus sister Anne  & Tony plus brother Norman & Joan  to miss him so very much.