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RANDEL HALES Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, 2014.

HALES, RANDEL Albert 12 September, 1949 - 18 January, 2014 It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Randy Hales, at home, in Duncan, BC, after a very long and courageous battle with cancer. Randy was predeceased by his father, Ivan K. Hales, in 1986. Randy is survived by his wife and soul mate since high school, Cidnee (Edlund-Hales) Johnson; their two children; Lisa Hales and Jeremy Hales and his grandchildren respectively, Jesse and Jayson Hales; and 'Little Miss Danika," his mother, Mrs. Beatrice Hales; brother Gregory Hales (Patricia); sister Wendy Jorgenson (Charles) (all of Lethbridge, AB), and their son, Chad Jorgenson (Carolina). He is also survived by his brother and sisters-in-law, Nick Proc and Cheryl (Edlund) of Lethbridge, and Mrs. Claire (Edlund) Neville, (Clark Neville d. 1993) of Calgary. Randy also has several nephews and one niece. Randy was born and raised in Lethbridge, AB. Randy's love for animals and the outdoors has been life-long. As a child he had pet crows and magpies. He had a curiosity about nature and always would be hiking for miles in the prairie coulees with his friends, Len Filmer, Grant Demaniuk, Ken Gilbert, and Grant Cook. During his later teen years he worked at Safeway's and Cal's Sport and Cycle Shop. He loved riding his Bonneville Triumph 650 and also belonged to the hill climbing club where he raced his Bultaco. After Graduation (Sr. Matric) he moved to Calgary where he earned his Zookeeper Diploma (4 year Apprenticeship) at the Calgary Zoo where he worked for seven years. He was trained in all aspects of animal husbandry while at the Calgary Zoo. As Foreman he specialized in amphibians and reptilians, as well as a veterinary technician in the animal hospital. Randy hand-raised with love and devotion, a baby polar bear for several months. He had numerous wonderful and exciting Zoo experiences. During one of his sabbaticals, Randy worked for a movie production company as an animal trainer, filming in Banff, and in Utah. He then moved to Mill Bay in 1975 to manage the new animal park and campground. He found good friends with Moe and Ted Adye, Ken Nelson, and Marlene Caskey (where she had previously worked with him at the Calgary Zoo, in Banff, and in Utah.) He recalls one time when a South American Coatimundi escaped the Animal Park and was found being spoiled by the staff of Bamberton Cement Plant. They never knew exactly how this animal made its way to their lunch room. And now you do. He also worked as Park Foreman for the BC Government for several years as well as Supervising a Youth Crew in the summers on Portland/Princess Island where he taught outdoor survival skills, rebuilt trails, chopped firewood, and on free time took the youths water skiing. When the Parks privatized he then worked for the City of Duncan as a Utility Worker for a few years. His brother-in-law, Nick Proc, and he spent most of their free time on family camping trips, hunting, and fishing trips out to Port Renfrew, Porlier Pass and Burgoyne Bay. A couple of their experiences were when a large pod of Orcas swam under the 16' boat and lifted it, knocking it about. They were thankful for not being overturned and left way out in the ocean. As well, there was a near head-on collision with a BC Ferry. Randy, Nick and Harold Walkden were glad to sleep on the cold docks that night. Don't think they ever fished again in those waters. Randy worked with Khowutzun Development Corp. putting in gas lines. As Foreman he trained others and oversaw day-to-day operations. He then transitioned to Canadian Utilities Corp. operating heavy-duty machinery, installing gas pipelines on Vancouver Island and on the Sunshine Coast. Randy loved operating several types of machinery and would reminisce how his day was and how much he liked to 'play with the big boy toys.' Randy had a variety of interests and especially loved to fish with Nick, Clark (d), Jeremy, and 'Little Miss 'Danika'. Randy was the type of guy that could do anything, whether it was building his house, landscaping, creating a 4-tier waterfall in the backyard with Lisa and Jesse, or tutor a friend in trigonometry. Cidnee would say always in amazement, "He knows how to do so much and then zip-zip, it's done!" Randy was a kind man, a private man, a proud man, a deep thinker, artistic and a perfectionist who loved his family greatly. He had a dry odd sense of humour that was appreciated by those who knew him. At least it was appreciated by the men as the guys would be laughing; the wives were not. One Christmas when Lisa and Jeremy were young, Randy put a black rubber boot in a leg-hold trap in the back yard. He said he must have caught Santa! Another was, Cidnee and her friend were watching the movie, 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Randy snuck into the house with a chainsaw and pulled the cord which fired it up right in the middle of the movie…."nicely done Randy!" We did see the humour in this, but definitely not at the time. When we finally finished laughing, shaking, and crying, it was too late for revenge as he had already made his escape. And the time he told Lisa's youngest son, Jayson Hales, that he was going to BBQ his beloved cat "Benjamin" if he kept bringing the cat to Grampa's house! Randy had this twinkle in his eye and his eyebrow would raise up on one side, and you knew, he was kidding, although Jayson had to be reassured. With much gratitude we wish to thank the following: Dr. T. Rimmer, Somenos Clinic, Dr. W. Pewarchuk, the Cancer Ward at the Cowichan District Hospital, Victoria Cancer Clinic, the unending daily care and support provided by the wonderful Palliative Care RN's and the assistance from Home Support. Thank you all for your cards, telephone calls, visits, and for the delicious food prepared for us by Marg Pollock and Kandiss Dougan at a time when we could not even think how to boil an egg. Thank you to Sand's Funeral Home for their professional and personal assistance. We are so grateful to all of you for your compassion, understanding and kind hearts. We could not have made it through this without your invaluable service and support. As per Randy's request there will be no service. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. "Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all." Laura Ingalls Wilder

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6 Entries

February 8, 2014

Marcella Blais

Safely home. Focus on your happy memories.

February 8, 2014

Debbi Koch

Memories forever

February 8, 2014

Cidnee (Hales) Johnson

A Husband
A Father
A Brother
A Son
A Brother-in-law
A Friend
A Patient
A Neighbour
A Nephew
An Uncle
A Cousin
(no necessarily in that order)
You are deeply missed.

February 8, 2014

Lynn Mott

It is sad to have you gone but lots of memory will linger on. R I P

February 7, 2014

Kelly Dods

Sorry for your loss

February 7, 2014

Cheryl & Nick Proc

Beautiful tribute

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results

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Funeral services provided by:

Sands Funeral Chapel Cremation and Reception Centre - Duncan

187 Trunk Road, Duncan, BC V9L 2P1

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