Gordon John Pyvis
November 20, 1922 - May 3, 2017
It is with great sadness and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Gordon John Pyvis. Gordon was born in Chilliwack, BC on November 20, 1922, the only child of William John (Bill) Pyvis and Mabel Minerva Pyvis (nee Gibson). Gordon was the 2nd generation Pyvis born in Chilliwack. Gordon was predeceased by his parents and his wife of 65 years, Murdece. Gordon is survived by his daughter Joene (Evan) Parker, 2 granddaughters, Lynnette (Jim) Van Winkle and Jennifer Kewley (Garret Pittet),4 great grandchildren, Jorja, Andrew, Wyatt and Cyrus, 2 great-step-children Lance Parker and Kendra (Josh) Bergen, and 2 great-step-grandchildren, Sarah and Parker. Gordon was an avid athlete his entire life. Throughout his youth he enjoyed playing a number of school and community sports, including basketball and softball. Gordon loved to golf, somthing he started at the age of 6 and continued until the age of 92. His first home course was The Chilliwack Golf and Country Club in 1958 on Yale Road. In his younger years, Gordon would ride his bicycle to the original course, then search for lost balls and when he found enough he would return them to the office in exchange for his green fee. Gordon was also passionate about curling. He curled with his friends, his wife and skipped in one bonspiel with his father as 3rd in 1963, taking home the Pacific Coast International Tankard, a memory he held dear to his heart his whole life through. Gordon's devotion to sports led him to join his father, Bill, and many other businessmen, to purchase debentures in 1950 for the Chilliwack Curling Club to help build a proper facility, which officially opened in 1952. In 1942 Gordon signed up to serve his country during WWII. His first postinig was as a solider in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps., where he trained as a transport driver. His career with the forces was curtailed when his father had a heart attack in 1943 and Gordon was required to return to Chilliwack to run the family business, W.J. Pyvis & Son Shell Oil Disbributors, until Bill could return to work in November. Gordon served until 1946 when he joined his father in the running of the business full time, continuing as the sole proprietor after his father's death in 1971. Gordon and Murdece were married July 20, 1944. They lived in the Shangri-La apartments on Williams Street until the construction of their first home on Fletcher Street was complete in early 1949. Gordon and Murdece welcomed their beloved Joene in November of that same year. They were members of the local Gyro Club. Gordon was also a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge #48. In 1977 Gordon and Murdece sold the Shell plant and retired to Canmore, Alberta to live closer to Joene, Bill and the grandkids. Gordon, not one to be idle, took a summer job as an office manager at Restwell Trailer Court, allowing him to become "snowbird" for the winter months. He and Murdece would pack up each October for warmer climates, spending many seasons on Oahu, Hawaii and in the Yuma, Arizona region. In 1987 Gordon and Murdece returned home to Chilliwack. Gordon joined as a member of the Kindora Golf Club when it opened and returned as a avid member of the Chilliwack Curling Club. In 2010 Murdece passed away, and 2012 Gordon moved into Lynnwood Residence where he made many friends and lived happily. Gordon moved into the Waverly in March 2017 and was cared for by a remarkable and loving team of caregivers, for whom the family is extremely grateful. A Community Celebration is to be held in early July with the location and date yet to be confirmed.
If so desired, donations may be made in Gord's name to the Junior Curling Program at the Chilliwack Curling Club.