CHARLES GORDON CURRIE
who was known as Charlie Currie passed away at 4:20 AM on February 17, 2009 at Heritage Village in his home town of Sardis B.C. now part of Chilliwack B.C.
Charles was born July 15th 1915 in Drumheller, Alberta and at the age of two, with his pioneering parents, Harry Winfred and Stella Katherine (nee Waldron) Currie, siblings Ella, James and Helen, moved to a forty acre woodlot which became a farm on the corner of Carter and Watson Road. Charles is the descendant of some of the earliest recorded families in North American history dating back over 400 years. He lived 91 of his 93 years in Chilliwack.
Charles often would say how he and his pals would ride their bikes 5 abreast down Vedder Road to Chilliwack High School in the days when you would still see the horse and buggy as well as the Model T. on the gravel bedded roads.
Charles was very actively involved in School and was lovingly described under “Personalities” in the school “Tattler” as “a 20th century replica of Horatius and Pythagoras rolled into one.”
Charles loved to play sports and was one of the basketball players for the “Valleys” who won the BC Champions in 1938-39.
Charles worked as a carpenter for his Father and Partner and in the logging industry.
Charles suffered a survived a serious logging accident and was still healing up when he was called for service for the second world War.
When the army gave him his physical he was rejected due to his injuries and was told to report back after he was healed up. Boeing Aircraft company hired him in there wing and float plane factories in Vancouver BC and Victoria BC where he soon was made the riveting Foreman. Than the army called again and he was sent into service ….then his mother suddenly passed away.
After WW2 ended, he returned home to work for Scheller Logging Company and in the evening coached the boys’ basketball team in Sardis and also was a Roller Skate cop at the Cultas Lake Roller Skate rink in the summer evenings.
Charles fell in love and married Elizabeth Klassen in 1949 they raised 5 children. He quit logging for more reliable work being employed at the Chevron Bulk Plant where his duties included everything from delivering oil to managing the office on Alexander Ave., in Chilliwack. Charles also produced milk for Dairyland on his 5 acre farm on Watson Rd. selling in 1968 and buying a bigger farm in Rosedale, B.C. where he and Family lived till 1981 and then moved back to the Sardis area of Chilliwack where he retired.
Charles was an active member of the Church of God on 1st. Avenue for 50 years, taking on the role as Bookkeeper and Board member.
Family was very important to him and was the main focus of his attentions when taking trips. He would love to visit Merritt to see his sister Helen Martin and family and then to Gallagher lake to see his sister Ella Carlson and family. During his senior years he made several trips across Canada to visit his New Brunswick cousins and the old homesteads.
In 2003 Charles lost the love of his life, Beth. His surviving children are Ruth E. Currie; Gordon J. Currie; Robert J. Currie (Sandy); Helen M. Thiessen (Peter); Heather J. Heier. Grandchildren; Jeanette, Patti, Charlie, Audrey, Nancy, Mica, Tasha, Jason, Stephanie, Mark, Jamie & Angela and 7 Great Grandchildren.
Donations or flowers are not necessary only your smiles as we celebrate our father’s life. The family would like to thank the special individuals who gave of their time and showed kindness to our father during his last years.
Funeral Services will be held from the chapel of Henderson’s Funeral Home 45901 Victoria Ave Chilliwack BC on February 25th 2009, at 11am.
Reception and procession to the
Chilliwack Cemetery will follow