210 Saturday, March 21 1992 @ Charlie King is Another old and valued friend died last month and I delivered his eulogy. Since he was a widely k pi I had more requests for copies of the address than I could give out. I am having it printed, therefore, for his many friends. It reads as follows: EULOGY for Charles Henry King July 4, 1909-Feb. 23, 1992 Your Reverence, loving fam- ily, dear friends and associates of Charlie King, we are met here today to honor and re- member a very special person. Unlike Tennyson’s Ulysses, the heroic warrior-king and world traveller of Odyssey fame, Charlie never strayed far from the place where he was born. He neither gathered decorations and memorials to his exploits nor did he do any injury to any person, place or Yet, in his small kingdom here in the Kootenays, he too could say with Ulysses, but in his own special way, “Much have I seen and known; cities of men, climates, councils, gov- ernments, myself not least, but honored of them all.” And again like Ulysses, declare, “I am become a part of all that I have met.” I first met Charlie in 1947 at the Castlegar Rail Station and wrote of the incident in a story about Castlegar to be published in the 1992 Winter Edition of the Beautiful British Columbia Magazine. Charlie, to a far greater de- gree than most people realize, was a living reflection of both his own inheritance and his special experience. In his brief, small autobiog- raphy, ‘My Recollections of Seventy Years in the Koote- nays’, he tells of the premature death of his “fine, war-veteran - father” and his “true-Scots S Reflections and Recollections John CHARTER 88 8 Et 2 eS <7 ae 2 Crawford Bay on Kootenay Lake, of the many good, help- ful neighbors, and his one- room country school. He re- calls his first job in 1927 at Cominco as a beaker-boy at thirty-five cents:an hour, and his marriage to the lovely Peg- gy Davis of Riondel, followed almost immediately by their permanent move to Castlegar. These two last events marked the beginning of a love affair between the girl of his heart and the town of his adop- tion; a love affair which shone brightly for over a half century. It was here that they raised their children— son Bob and daughters Jeanette Cassell and Marjorie “Midge” King. It was here in 1946 that Charlie began his twenty-four year career as Secretary-Trea- surer for the brand new Castlegar School Board and school district. It was here as President of the Castlegar Co- operative Transportation Soci- ety that he helped the town come into its own. In fact, to give a list of the organizations which he has helped establish and develop is to give an out- line of a large part of the story of Castlegar itself. It includes the Castlegar Scouts and Cubs; the St. John’s Ambulance Association, which brought First-Aid train- ing to the entire valley, as well as Civil Defense, fire patrols Voykin reaffirmed as Recreation chairman @ Area I director to head region’s Complex and recreation commision John Voykin, Director for Area I ofthe Regional District of Central Kootenay, was re- cently re-elected to the posi- tion of chairman for the Castlegar and District Com- munity Complex and Recre- Ed Chernoff (appointee Area J) Marilyn Strong (appointee Area I) Doreen Smecher (Di- rector City of Castlegar) Ron Ross and Jim Penman (ap- © pointees City of Castlegar). The commission is respon- sible for the Community Com- plex, Pioneer Arena, Aquatic Centre, Recreation programs and Pass Creek Park. In addition to the election of Voykin the commission estab- lished their service objectives and capital projects for the year. Capital projects include anew sound system and score clock for the Complex and a number of beautification pro- jects in the Complex. and a dozen others. His twen- ty-five year association with the travels and trials of the Castlegar Library, as presi- dent and as Mr. Fixit, is asaga in itself, and the success of our present outstanding public li- brary is a memorial to the quality of his involvement. Pete Oglow, a great friend and admirer, who had many business negotiations for the Doukhobor community with Charlie, said of him, “He was a good man to do business with and most efficient and fair in his work.” His hobbies and social ac- tivities such as boating, hik- ing, square dancing and snow- shoeing were also family af- fairs and a joy to his heart. personal and private, of our childhood upbringing, and in- finitely patient, even to the ex- tent of teaching three teenagers to drive the family car“* . “He was, as well, tremen- dously proud of his children and his grandchildren, and all of their accomplishments, no matter how small, and they meant as much to him as to them,” and obviously, it was reciprocated. This aspect of his personal- ity I noted, when we visited him in hospital, extended even into his time of illness, for in spite of his pain and some- times despair, he always treat- ed his nurses with kindness and consideration. They, in ‘How can I recall for you in a few sentences the open-hearted service of a lifetime of 80 years?’ At this point in my prepara- tion, I called on Bob, Jeanette and Midge for their own mem- ories of their father and found them to be in complete accord with what had been already Written. They said (and again I quote freely), “He brought us children up by instilling in us the lifelong virtues while rarely ever raising his voice or d. “He was devoted to his fam- ily,” they continued, “and we meant everything to him. Mealtimes were always family affairs, and everything — camping, fishing, picnicking and swimming — was done to- gether. Even when we were at our summer camp at Renata we were often accompanied by several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends for he was never too busy to make everyone wel- come. Moreover, he was a great teacher in every phase, turn, cared for him as if he were a beloved father or grandfather. It was deeply touching. How can I recall for youin a few sentences the open-heart- ed service of a lifetime of 80 years? A lifetime as the good son, the devoted husband and fa- ther, the dedicated public ser- vant, the exemplary good citi- zen who did what he loved to do and loved what he did? It is all inextricably woven into every aspect of this communi- ty — a subject on which I could write a book, and each of you another volume of your own recollections. Suffice to say that he inher- ited the canniness, warmth and practicality of his mothér, the idealism and dedication of his father, and was raised in the pioneer philosophy of the honest hard worker, worthy of ‘one man to be remembered his hire, and of the warm and generous good neighbor. He could be frustrating and infuriating at times, but more often charming and ingenious. He could also be very blunt- spoken, but more often end- lessly compassionate and helpful, particularly with chil- dren. Always, however, like Abraham Lincoln, he had a chuckling anecdote for any oc- casion, for he was a joyous teller of tales. He was forever Peggy's dearest friend and _ companion, and, at the same time, a good friend to thou- sands of others. How better to describe such a one than in the words of the English prose writer and dramatist, John Lilly, who four hundred years ago wrote; ‘A friend is in prosperitie Fpleaz__ sure, a solace in adversitie,’ in grief a comfort, in joy a merry companion, at all times anoth- erI,’ In closing, I would like to thank Peggy and all the fami- ly for giving me the opportuni- ty to say these few inadequate words about a man whose life was anid is so much a part of our own. It has been a great honor. On behalf of the family I thank you all for joining us all in the remembering and re- joicing in a rich and wonderful life full of days, so well spent. While the man himselfis gone, his example and his spirit will remain as a light anda path in this community for genera- tions to come. As a final salute I would like to offer the Nunc Dimittis from St. Luke‘s Gospel: ‘Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy sal- vation which thou has pre- pared before the face of all the™ people. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glo- ry of thy people Israel.’ AND THE WINNER IS... From left to right, Marnie Henne, Cindy Corrigan and Katheen Ramage announced the second early bird draw winner in the Canadian Red Cross’s Caribbean Cruise of a Lifetime. The $500 Holland America cruise voucher was won by Celgar worker James Reid. a @ Saturday, March 21 1992 Listen to God’s whisper, please Attention, please! Once there was a farmer who bought a mule, but he couldn’t get the mule to move or do anything. The farmer went back to the former own- er. “How do you get that mule to move?” he asked. “Just whisper ‘please’ in the mule’s ear.” The farmer tried that. Still _ nothing. This time he said to the former owner, “You come over and show me.” So the former owner came over, took a two-by-four, whacked the mule over the head, then whispered “please” in the mule’s ear. Immediately the mule began to pull the plow. “You see,” said the former owner, “first you’ve got to get its attention!” Sometimes God hits us on the head to get our attention. That’s what happened. to Moses when he saw the burn- ing bush. Or to St. Paul on the road to Damascus. Or to peo- ple in our time who have great religious experiences. But more often, God just whispers in our ears. The cry of a new born baby, the lapping of waves on the shore, the comforting words of a friend, a favorite song, a pas- sage of scripture, a news sto- ry that awakens our compas- sion and prompts us to action — all are ways that God can speak to us. We can be re- minded of God’s-presence by Pulpit & Pew Castlegar United Church The Rev. Ann POLLOCK anything that hints of the lov- ing Creator who cares for cre- ation by desiring justice and peace for all. Being hit on the head by God has a certain appeal, even though it may hurt. By having a great religious experience one can be assured that there is a God and that one is called to live in God’s way. But the small whisperings can be just as assuring and empowering. Seeing God at work in the things around us, knowing that God is present with us in all of life, being en- couraged by the every day signs of God’s love can help us to live our lives in faith day by day. They can enable us to trust in God’s care and to show that care to others in all of our lives. Now, if we would just pay attention when God whispers in our ear... News photo Aloe Vera plants aren’t normally known to produce flowers, but Don Goldie of Blueberry Creek got hold of The News to tell us about his one in a million plant which has a growth (top centre) with all the characteristics of any flower. Despite his inquiries, Goldie has yet to find out just how the plant achieved the remarkable feat. University Women's Club settin University Women’s Club members Eileen Williams (left) and Eve Jones work on table centres for the Selkirk Foundation’s Festival of Trees. The previous four months have been both interesting and busy. An excellent program on the Soviet Union was presented by Len Voykin and Elly Davidoff. Topics included a look at histo- ry, the Doukhobor people, Glastnost, Perestroika and the current situation. Their press- ing needs plus suggestions for aiding the people were ex- plored. In December, a very pleas- ant evening of games, refresh- ments and a creative gift ex- change was spent at the home of Doreen Newman. A dona- tion was sent to the Salvation Army. ~- Work parties on the table decorations for Selkirk Foun- dation’s “Festival of Trees” in- volved many members during the fall months. Programs for ’92 were com- g brisk social pace menced with an excellent evening on India presented by, Shantha Martin and Joyce Co-| ma. A glimpse at customs and| geography of the country as followed by slides of many beautiful gardens and build- ings. Coma’s comments as al first time visitor complimented Martin’s view of her home country. 5 In February, a program on| drama was presented by Lee} Mendoza at the home of Sue’ Green. It was a lively and in- formative presentation which ranged from introductory com- ments right through to a vari- ety of readings. The club meets March 31) for an evening of book reviews at the home of LEileen| Williams. Guests are welcome. Call 365-3031, if you require! further information or would! like to attend.