Tribute

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share our grief laden news that Gerry unexpectedly passed away on September 11th. He left peacefully with his loving wife Cathy and son Stan by his side.
Left to mourn Gerry are his son Clayton (Kristin), son Stan (Lleanne), daughter Jackie (Corey) and son Travis (Lindsay), along with his grandchildren, Reece, Ruby, Grace, Lucy, Owen, Mia, and Beau. Parents Hank and Dulcie Deeble and his siblings Glenda (Don), Brenda (Ross), Sandy (Gord), Don (Sian), Travis (SueAnn), Daphne (Troy) and brother in-law Dan (Sherry).
Also treasured friends, Terry and Amanda Wright and girls, and John and Rosemary Barry. Gerry is predeceased by his wonderful in-laws, Don and Dorothy Craig, whom he was very fond of.

Gerry was born in Duncan, but spent his formative years in Crofton. As a teen his family moved to Chemainus. Gerry kept us laughing through the years with his sense of humor and fun, his presence was larger than life! He had a softness for babies, little children and his hunting dogs.
Hockey was a huge part of his life as a participant, coach and an avid Chicago Blackhawks fan. He is fondly remembered for his camping breakfast of red licorice twizzlers.
Gerry met his life partner and sweetheart Cathy at Chemainus High School. They married in 1981 and raised their family there. As a teenager Gerry began working at Doman’s Sawmill, presently known as WFP in Cowichan Bay, doing weekend clean up, and then various jobs throughout the mill. In his early 40’s Gerry went to BCIT to complete his Red Seal Millwright ticket. He took pride in knowing the mill inside out.
Gerry was happy to round out his career as the Millwright Chargehand. He loved his work and made many lifelong friendships there.

Gerry has been called the quintessential outdoorsman and that suited him well. His passion was camping, hunting and fishing, trap and skeet shooting and he was an active member of both the Chemainus Rod and Gun Club and the Cowichan Valley Trap Club. Gerry was also extremely artistically talented in several mediums, including fly tying, miniature trains, metal art and woodworking to name a few.

A family interment was held Wednesday, September 22nd at the Chemainus Cemetery.
There will be a celebration of life for Gerry on Saturday, October 16th, 2 pm at the Mellor Hall, Cowichan Exhibition Grounds.

Our thanks go out to the nursing staff and Dr. Takeda at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Also, Doctors Morris and Archdekin of Chemainus Medical Clinic. We would like to thank family and friends for the outpouring of love and support during this time.

For those wishing to make a donation in Gerry’s name, please consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation

“When we love deeply, we mourn deeply;
Extraordinary grief is an expression of
extraordinary love.
Grief and love mirror each other;
One is not possible without the other.”