Allan George Fraser passed peacefully at Royal Inland Hospital on June 9, 2023. He is survived by Diane, his loving wife of 67 years and his 4 children: Garth (Diane), Brock (Lise), Tannis (Jeff) and Cameron (Kerrie), along with his grandchildren Duncan, MacKenzie, Dayle, Brooke, Dyson, Emma, Samantha, Harrison, and Brady (Cassie and Riot). Al is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins whom he was most fond of and who shared in many good times together over the years. Big family gatherings, at the lake, the condo, and during holidays were always a favourite activity of his. Al was predeceased by his parents, George and Marie Fraser, as well as his sisters Glenys Pritchett and Jean Milton.
Al lived a full and rich existence as a lifetime resident of Kamloops, attending Allan Mathews Elementary and Kamloops High School, where he was a member of Mr. McMurdo’s Kamloops Youth Symphony, a very accomplished and respected orchestra. Al also played football in school and afterward in the Kamloops community. Later, he helped establish the Kamloops Minor Football league, where he coached the Legion 52 Bombers.
Al had a long working career in Kamloops, with Swifts Canada and Mutual of NY Insurance, but he found both a job and community when he took a post in 1966 at the Kamloops Weyerhauser mill, producing some of the finest pulp in all the world for over 35 years. Al worked his way from union member to management to consulting. As a supervisor, Al was known for his fairness and compassion. After hours, Al and family enjoyed many of the Weyerhaeuser Social Club events with friends and co-workers, including numerous ski trips and adventures. Allan was very proud of his time at Weyerhaeuser.
Al was active as a skier at Tod Mountain/Sun Peaks, as well as a member of the Kamloops Curling Club, The Kamloops Golf Club, and the Kamloops Masonic Lodge #10. He spent many summers at, on and in Little Shuswap Lake, sharing epic days and great adventures with the Pritchett and Milton families, at their shared cabin.
In retirement, Al enjoyed time at Gun Lake, Sun Peaks and travelling with Diane, while spending ample time with his grandchildren and extended family. He served as a board member of the Overlander Extended Care Hospital, a strata council member of Crystal Forrest-Sun Peaks, and was also active with Habitat For Humanity and the Weyerhaeuser Retirees social group.
Maureen Patricia Powell (née Gillies). Born in Kamloops on March 7, 1933, she passed away peacefully on April 28, 2021, in her home surrounded by family. She is survived by her children, Kevin (Linda), Danny (Liana), Erin, Todd (Judy), Colleen (Kent), and Kellie (Craig). She also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, her sister Margaret, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Kamloops Senior Secondary School, she began working for the BC Forest Service. Shortly after, she met her future husband, Thomas Powell, who was a lacrosse-playing Trail boy. They married in October of 1954, then moved to Trail, and had four children before moving back to Kamloops. Once settled, Maureen started working again at the BC Forestry Service and went on to have three more children. She will always be remembered for her endless strength and love in looking after her family.
Her retirement years were spent with her husband, travelling and seeing different parts of Canada and the U.S. After her husband passed away, she was still up for adventure with her kids. White water rafting down the Thompson River, falling off sea-doos in the Shuswap, flying down alligator-infested waters on an airboat in New Orleans, touring around different parts of Texas, visiting the Grand Canyon and taking an old elevator shaft down into the deep pits of a mine in Arizona.
One of her favourite pastimes was that of caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the centre of our universe and loved family gatherings either at her house, where we could admire her beautiful garden and flowers, or at Shuswap Lake, where she was surrounded by love and laughter.
She was ever so thankful to end her journey on this earth being cared for by those who loved her most.
