Gerry Britton
August 24, 1940 - March 31, 2017
Gerry was born in Chilliwack as was his dad, Bill. His mom was Audrey and his siblings were Bonnie, Darby, Laurie, Neil and Rod. Gerry is from a large family in the Chilliwack area, started by his grandfather and mother, Ernie and Elsie, who settled in the area in the 1890's. Gerry lived in Sardis and Cultus Lake as a kid and loved playing sports. He was a good swimmer and completed (as the oldest swimmer) an open ocean mile swim at 71. He helped build the Chilliwack coliseum in the late 1950's and even though he spent years bringing his sons there to play hockey and managing hockey teams he never learned to skate himself. He was on the Chilliwack Frontiersman Basketball team with his life long friend, the late Gerry Kellington, when they made a historic run for the Provincial Championship in the late 50's. In 1958 Gerry and his friend Dick Newman (and future brother-in-law) enlisted for a short time in the Air Force. Gerry played with and helped out with many sports organizations over the years not the least of which was the Cultus-Chilliwack Swim Club. Dad lived for his kids and family, for many years helping out with any organizations they were involved in. He lived many years in the Chilliwack area but also lived in many other places as well, McLeod Lake, Edmonton, Fort Nelson, NWT, Texas to name but a few. Gerry was the prototypical 'jack of all trades' - steam engineer, gas fitter, welder, mechanic, logger, truck driver, drummer, poker player, car salesman, racecar driver and business owner. Gerry always worked hard with his first wife Stella to provide for their family - sons Mike and Lee and daughter Danna; Gerry loved his grandkids: Micheal, Robert, Julia, Alex, Joshua, Mackenzie and Lucas. Gerry shared his life with a few partners after separating from Stella and before he met Sonya Sorensen whom he married in 1982. They spent the last 20 years living in Bowser and the Parksville area. Dad enjoyed many pastimes: not the least of which were smoking and drinking, but he also loved gardening, playing cards (he and Stella were great bridge players) tinkering in his shop, visiting with friends, caring for one of his many dogs, raising chickens, pigs and cows when he had a chance, and sometimes just sitting and listening to music (one of his favourites being Jerry Lee Lewis). Gerry shared many memories and good times with those who knew him over the years. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday April 22 at Cultus Lake, Main Beach from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. His son Mike is accepting donations for a headstone to be placed with his family at the Chilliwack graveyard.