GAMMELL; Kenneth John
September 1, 1940 ~ October 13, 2014
Ken passed away peacefully at Tabor Home in Abbotsford with his wife by his side. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Arlene of 45 years, his brother John Gammell, brother-in-law Richard Novis, nephews Oliver and Finbar Gammell and Tom Novis, niece Rebecca Allen, great nephew Keagan Novis and great nieces Charlee May Allen and Macy Novis. Ken immigrated to Canada from England in 1966. He was only here a week before he met Arlene in Kitsilano and they were married two years later on October 19. Ken was known for his great sense of humour and he loved to make people laugh even at his own expense. A sense of humour that he carried with him through the years as his dementia progressed. He was a kind, gentle man with a zest for life that had him pursuing many interests and adventures. He prescribed to the philosophy that "the one who dies with the most toys wins". He built three houses, took courses on how to build log houses and geodesic domes, fished, skied, wind surfed, sailed on a racing yacht, built a camper, created abstract art, made a leather barrel chair, did some modeling, traveled to many countries and the list goes on. He was operations manager at Woodgrove Shopping Center in Nanaimo for the last eighteen years of his working life. When he retired he and Arlene golfed and travelled to Yuma, AZ in the winter for fun in the sun. Summers were spent in Black Creek on Vancouver Island. He moved to Abbotsford in 2011 to be closer to family. Many thanks to the staff at Maplewood House Day program for the love and joy they brought to his life the last few years. An open house and celebration of Ken's life will be held at a later date.