February 10, 1922 - April 22, 2011

Ernie was participating in one of his favourite activities when he suddenly left this world of consciousness, and, on Good Friday, he crossed the bar while in Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, BC, and is now dancing with the angels.

Ernie will be greatly missed by his daughter and son-in-law, Susan Gaye and Ron Bell; his grandsons and their wives: Michael and Cheryl Bell and Alexander and Shauna Bell; his great-grandchildren: Richard and Kiira Dupuis and Pyper Amandalee Bell; his great-great-grandson, Derrick Febril; his “favourite niece,” Myrna (Russ) Wright; and many dancing partners and bowling friends. He was predeceased by Myra, his wife of 57 years, in 2005.

Dad was born in York Township, Toronto, Ontario, to Scottish immigrants, and was still connected to relatives in Scotland whom he visited during his time in Europe with the Canadian Forces in WWII. He was an avid Boy Scout, and one of his fondest memories was of cycling from Toronto to New York with a group of his Scouting friends to see the 1939 World’s Fair.

Dad served in the Signal Corps during the latter years of WWII and participated in the liberation of Walcheren Island, which gave the allies crucial access to the port of Antwerp in the Netherlands; he was also Mentioned in Dispatches for action under fire and was presented with a citation of gratitude from the City of Toronto.

Ernie and Myra were married in 1948 in Vancouver, where Dad went to work for the CPR Telecommunications division as an equipment mechanic, installing and maintaining Telex machines throughout southern British Columbia. The family transferred to Kamloops in 1957. Dad and Mom were active in the United Church as youth group and renowned camp leaders, and, as Akela and Bagheera, they fondly remembered and are remembered by half a generation of Cubs, especially their doctor of many years. They earned their Gilwell woggles and also served as District Cubmasters.

Dad and Mom were involved in the Toastmaster and Toastmistress Clubs from their inception, holding positions on the executives and winning club, regional, and provincial speech competitions. They encouraged their family to join them in becoming lawn bowlers, which led to several medals and cup prizes, beginning in the early 1970s and continuing to the present day with Dad being very proud of Alex and Ron as they won silver and gold medals in provincial competition, and as Ron placed fourth in nationals. Dad was looking forward to another summer of lawn bowling this year.

Dad and Mom played Century Sam and Centennial Sue during the celebrations for British Columbia’s 100th Birthday in 1971, and many an audience was entertained by their comedy skits in the Kamicecades. Dad continued to figure skate up to just a few years ago. Another of Dad’s favourite activities was carpet bowling twice a week at the Northshore Seniors Centre in Cottonwood Manor. But it was dancing that Dad most looked forward to every week, often attending four or five dances a week, and aside from his family, is where he will be missed the most.

We extend our thanks to Dr. Alan Burris for his years of caring for Dad’s health, Dr. Mosewich for his sage advice and emergency care, and Nurses Elena, Raylene, Christy, Brandy, et al. for their genuine interaction with and unhurried TLC for Dad. A get-together in Dad’s memory will be announced at a later date. Donations in Ernie’s name may be made to Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements entrusted to Kamloops Funeral Home, 250-554-2577.

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