3137 Ralph Darby Keen
Ralph Darby Keen passed away June 18, 2014 in Chilliwack, BC after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Ralph will be dearly missed by Mary Keen, his wife of 61 years, daughters – Sukoshi Fahey, Sherri Bellah, and Brenda Keen and husband Ryan Anderson, along with grandson Jeremy Fahey and wife Melissa, granddaughters Tamara and Tania Straiton, and great grandchildren Jordan and Justine Fahey, Kado Straiton and Ralph’s sister, Sharon Keen. His brother, Raymond Keen, passed away several years before.
November 10, 1931, Catherine and Dennis Keen welcomed their first son, Ralph Darby, into the world. Ralph grew up in Jasper and graduated from Jasper High with honors. He attended Royal Military College where he forged many lifelong friends. Mary Driver caught his eye and as soon as he graduated, they were married in the little white church in the Rockies.
Ralph joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1953 and was posted to Korea for a year. In 1955 Ralph graduated with a Civil engineering degree from UBC. The next 25 years of military career took Ralph and family on a series of postings across Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During his Kenyan assignment Ralph climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Retiring from the military in 1980 the family moved to various locations in BC and settled in Chilliwack where Ralph worked for the District of Chilliwack until retirement in 1996. Over the years Ralph indulged in favourite pastimes – fly fishing, squash, karate, and serving the communities in many volunteer roles. His love of a good joke and his dry sense of humour made him beloved by family and friends.
Ralph lived his life with truth, duty, and valour. A celebration of his life will be held later in July. If you would like to make a memorial donation the link is: http://www.parkinson.ca/site/c.kgLNIWODKpF/b.5184129/k.2CBF/Donate_Now.htm
Online remembrances can be made here
Yes, I am old; – and death hath ta’en
Full many a friend, to memory dear;
Yes, when I die, ‘twill soothe the pain
Of quitting my survivors here,
To think how all will be delighted,
When in the skies again united!
from the “The Tin Trumpet”
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3816 Howard William Causier
Howard William Causier June 19, 1935 – May 3, 2014 Bill passed away in North Vancouver, BC at the age of 78. Predeceased by his wife Yvonne; his son Don; his parents Tom and Annabell; and his brother Ralph. Bill is survived by his daughter Diane (Dan) Theodorescu and their children, Thomas and Claire; sister Connie Mogus and her son, Ronald (Heather) and their sons Ryan and Mark. Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Bill attended Royal Roads Military College, then the Royal Military College of Canada, completed 3 years of military service before returning to the University of Saskatchewan for one year to earn his Electrical Engineering degree. During his 26 years with IBM Canada he would say his career highlights were the 2 years at the CICS development lab in Hursley England and his work on the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics. Source
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